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Letter And Response Form To Venture Capitalists

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MICHAEL D. BURNS
2000 Oaks Towers | 2000 W. Federal Street | Boston, MA 02110
H: 617-765-9898 | C: 617-766-8215 | mburns@yahoo.com


January 18, 20––

Mr. William B. Nolan, Partner
Advanced Technology Ventures
1000 El Camino Real, Suite 210
Menlo Park, California 94025

Dear Bill:

Is your firm capitalizing companies in need of experienced managers? If so, I would like you to be aware of my credentials. Enclosed is a resume and an excerpt from Fortune magazine which summarizes my experience and highlights a few of my accomplishments.

Most of my career has been in management and the financial areas. With participation in two turnarounds and one startup, my experience has been varied and I have built a consistently successful track record. I am adaptable and learn fast as evidenced by my level of accomplishment in jobs that varied greatly in content, and in three different industries. I have found that I greatly enjoy working in smaller, more entrepreneurial businesses and that is what I am looking for now.

My job target is a position with a high management content, either in the operations or the financial area. It would ideally be with a company that has an entrepreneurial outlook, perhaps be five to ten years old and has sales of less than $100 million. I have no particular industry preference, having worked in several, and am open to any situation that is challenging and will make good use of my skills.

I am flexible on immediate compensation if there is adequate potential for growth. An opportunity to earn equity would be attractive. Although I am not seeking investment opportunities, I might consider a limited investment in the right situation. Geographic location is not a major consideration.

Bill, this should cover the key points. I will be glad to provide any other information you may need and can provide strong references when appropriate. Please call me today, or return the enclosed postage-paid questionnaire.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Burns



RESPONSE LETTER

FROM:
Mr. William B. Nolan
Partner
Advanced Technology Ventures
1000 El Camino Real, Suite 210
Menlo Park, California 94025

TO:
Michael D. Burns

Dear Michael:

___ Please give me a call for a telephone interview.

Telephone Number __________________________


___ I need more information.

       Please send ____________________________


___ We do not invest in areas appropriate for your skills.

___ I suggest you talk to the following people:

Name _______________________________ 

Address_____________________________

Telephone ___________________________

Name _______________________________ 

Address_____________________________

Telephone ___________________________


___ I don't have any ideas for you right now, but contact me

       again after ____________ (date).


Comments: ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________


Mr. William B. Nolan

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William S. Frank, M.A.,
            President/CEO
25 Reasons I love consulting.
by William S. Frank
  1. Brand. You are your own brand, and you can define it any way you want. For many years, I provided outplacement to the ex-employees of Schlumberger, the world's largest oilfield service corporation. When departing employees left the company, they didn't request outplacement in their severance package. They said, "I want Bill Frank."
  2. Demand. The world will always be full of terrible problems that need solving.
  3. White Hat. I can be a helper and get paid for it.
  4. Pay. I can be paid to do things I'd gladly do for nothing.
  5. Variety. Every day is different.
  6. Happiness. At this stage of my career, I only work for people I respect and care about. If a client micromanages me or is otherwise no fun, I complete the assignment and replace them.
  7. Talent. I'm using 110% of my talents and stretching myself to the max.
  8. Change. I can change my focus any day I want. If you're a McDonald's franchisee, you don't say, "Hey, I've got this great idea for a meatball sandwich—let's try it out today." In consulting you can adjust your focus hour-by-hour, as long as your clients still understand and appreciate what you do.
  9. Income. No one else would pay me as much as I pay myself.
  10. FUN. I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing.
  11. Retirement. I can write and consult as long as I am physically and mentally capable. Peter Drucker worked into his 90s, and when asked which book was his best, he said: "My next one."
  12. Job Security. Although clients come and go, no one can come into my office and say, "Pack up your stuff . . . You don't work here anymore." In 29 years, I've only had one employer: ME.
  13. Travel. I don't have to travel unless I decide to. I travel if it's both FUN and profitable—or at least FUN.
  14. Commute. I live five minutes from my office, a corner office in an upscale six-story tower. In winter, I leave a heated garage at home and drive to an underground heated garage at work. There's seldom time to hear even one song on the radio.
  15. Vacation. Consulting is more fun than vacation (except on Wailea Beach in Maui).
  16. Friends. I have developed hundreds of close acquaintances and several lifetime friends.
  17. Time. I can work as much or as little as I like: four-hour days or 18-hour days. (Of course, my income will reflect that.)
  18. Employees. I can work with employees, subcontractors, partners, or alone—I've done it all.
  19. Passive Income. I've developed several products that provide "mailbox money." I earn while I'm sleeping.
  20. Ethics. I've never had to violate my values or personal code of ethics. I've never had to lie, purposely deceive or harm others, or promise things I can't deliver. I go to bed with a clear conscience. That doesn't mean there's never any conflict. But the conflict is conducted according to generally accepted business practices.
  21. Virtual. My career is fairly portable. With the Internet, e-mail, cell phone, and FedEx, I can work nationally, even internationally from my office—or anywhere in the world.
  22. Purpose. I make a difference in peoples' lives every day. I see it in their faces, hear it in their voices, and read it in their thank-yous.
  23. Experience. Every painful or joyful life experience makes me a better consultant. So does every person I meet or book I read. Grey hair can be good in consulting.
  24. Structure. I have to work very hard, and the clients expect superb results—but I get to structure my days, weeks, months, and years.
  25. Boss. Most of the time, I love my boss.
As I was posting these letters online, I realized I want to communicate my love for consulting. It's just a great business. The single letters, taken together, may create a picture of enjoyment, but in a burst of creativity I listed some of the reasons consulting is such a good fit for me—and perhaps for you, too. They are not prioritized; this is just how they came out.