Starting a business is tough work. I've decided to use my blog to track my process as I go through it. This'll give me a way to write about lessons learned through this crazy startup I'm working on. The title for this post, comes from my friend Hans blog, which is similar to TechCrunch but dedicated to Seattle tech start ups and the entrepreneurship mindset.
So far here's what I've learned, some from those who have been there before like Guy Kawasaki, some from experience :
- If you don't try it, you'll never know. This is a lesson a good family friend once taught me. If you don't try it, you will never know. This not only applies to going from conceptualization of a business to implementation but also applies to all other aspects of a business. It's important to always ask for what you want because at the end of the day all you're losing is time.
- Hire people that are smarter than you (thanks Guy). It's also important to make sure you have a plan for a replacement in case someone decides to take off or you have to let someone go for whatever reason. The life of startup isn't for everyone and when you need to replace a crucial position, you want to have someone ready to go asap when you're in an early stage business.
- Create a board before you need it. My board of advisors have been an invaluable resource whom will not be soon forgotten. Listen to your gut first, then your advisors and see how they fit in.
- Read. This means reading blogs, newspapers, books, anything and everything that will help you think ahead of anyone else. In this day and age there are no excuses for not doing so. Although I don't always agree with him, I'm in total agreement here with Mark Cuban, who has an excellent post about this on his blog.
- "Be prepared to be hit over the head with a hammer multiple times." One of my favorite quotes I've heard so far courtesy of Charles Higgins, a serial entrepreneur and local angel investor who had those words of wisdom to share with me.