Twentysomething

Entering Startup

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 :

1. 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.
   
2. 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.
   
3. 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.
   
4. 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.
   
5. "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.
   

IdeaBlossom

On the heels of my last post, I thought it would be nice to post what I love so much about working in the start up atmosphere. I've worked for a few startups at this point and although the business models have been extremely different, the same general idea keeps the flame alive for me: the blossoming of a good (sometimes great) idea.

Now, I know a lot of people who work in the corporate world, and it definitely has some benefits, although as time progresses, I notice the politics tend to expand exponentially. The start up world is like the wild west, a few riders come in from the distance and can set the world ablaze, or just as easily lose the duel and ride off in shame.

It blows my mind that a small collective of people can have such an impact on the business world. The camaraderie and interactions that occur at such a level have a direct impact on the future of the business and small players instantly become much more valuable assets (although the pay could lead one to believe otherwise), and can, under the right leadership, have the freedom to assert and can dramatically increase their influence on the company.

Under the right circumstances, a start up can become a sort of religion, one in which everyone shares a passion that they are working for a greater cause and impacting the world in a net positive that corporate employees cannot share.

Although its not well suited for the masses, I wouldn't trade it in for the world.