Every one should do a startup company, but there is a time that works better than others.
Every one of us is looking for an edge, that little extra something that will propel us over the top. Startup founders like you and me sit at the precipice of our leap and look for some guidance as we examine the cost/benefit of the jump.
For those who have never started a company, the decision to go ahead is nothing less than frightening.
Are you ready is the most common question asked of ourselves. Some of us require market data to support the decision. Some need validation from potential customers. Some embark on building out the product in a misguided thought that your product vision is all that matters.
If you can’t decide what to do, I have an alternative thought for you. You will never get enough information to satisfy your logical brain. So, treat yourself to a different approach – go work for a startup.
Jack Ma, Mark Suster, Fred Wilson and Brad Feld, are just a few that believe that the experience of a startup is worth every minute towards your goal of starting your own gig. Lets call this immersion therapy.
Total immersion in somebody else’s startup, regardless of compensation, title or even responsibility, is the greatest gift you can give yourself.
When a company has 5-10 staff and everyone is sitting in one room or around one table, you get to witness every nuance of the startup journey. When issues arise, everyone gets to jump in to figure out the severity and process of the fix. When a new customer comes on board, you get to see the agony and ecstasy of that win. When you view firsthand the CEO raising money or securing a loan, you get to see how she handles that process.
Not every one of us is ready to take an idea out of our heads and start the journey. Don’t despair, it just means you are not quite ready. Next best option – join another startup and build those muscles on someone else’s dime.