Start-ups
http://blog.buzzumi.com/2011/12/the-startup-pathogen/
I’ve been working with two start-ups, one in the IT industry and one rather unusual for someone (like me) with an engineering background - a Tango School. I agree that with the observation that people creating businesses prefer to look at things from the top and want responsibility. They can also live (and prosper) in an environment that is ‘risky and stressful and intense and exhausting’.
The blog posting also makes the observation that entrepreneurs possess “pragmatic optimism”. I’m not completely sure about this. Start-up entrepreneurs have the ability to see the positive aspects of any development, so ‘pragmatic’ may not be the adjective that I’d associate with ‘optimism’ in this context.
An additional effect of the start-up pathogen: people possessing it have an incredible and immutable faith in their idea: They are absolutely sure that the world needs, wants and is waiting for what they are creating.They have focus! Successful start-ups listen to their customers and adjust their approach. This allows them to keep existing customers happy and to locate new ones. At the same time they stay focused on their objective. For example, the Tango School focus is on curriculum development and meeting student objectives. The School shuns morphing into a Tango Studio, becoming a Tango Event organizer, developing a Tango Shoe line or creating a Salsa and Samba subsidiary.
In order to focus, a start-up’s raison d'être must be clearly well and clearly defined. This means that the purpose must be expressed in a single declarative sentence which:
- everyone involved (employees, partners, customers) understands and can repeat
- has a subject, a verb, few adjectives or adverbs and no qualifiers.
- Is immutable: does not change from day-to-day
- is achievable without a need to change the fundamental parameters that govern the universe
Incredible focus and consistent faith means that entrepreneurs often have a skewed view of reality. Some, like Steve Jobs, were even able to generate a ‘reality distortion field’ that embeds those around them in a environment that makes doing the impossible not only possible but, if not routine, then certainly expected. Successful entrepreneurs use this ability to bring out the best in people.
I am always amazed by what talented people with a clear objective and an empowering environment can achieve. A successful start-up defines the objective, creates the environment and finds the talent.