What’s Your Philosophy? And Does It Work?
I grew up a ski racer. From age 6 to 15 I commuted every Friday night from New York to Vermont, arrived in a sleepy daze, stayed up late to sharpen and wax my skis, then up early Saturday morning to drive who knows where to ski mountains throughout New England. It was awesome. I loved the routine, the camaraderie among my teammates, the fresh chilly air, and the rush of skiing fast. Suffice to say my racing performance during these years was inconsistent at best — some yard sale wipe outs, some missed gates, some top 10’s, and even a few gold medals. However there was one thing remarkably consistent about that experience as a competitive skier — my mindset and the wisdom of my father.
Standing in that starting gate, race after race, with adrenaline screaming through my veins, I had a consistent thought, or rather nagging question, “How would I do?” Fact is, I was a bit of a head case — wondering about how it was going to turn out, whether I would crash and burn or reach the podium. My father, apart from unfailingly freezing his ass off on the side of the slope watching me weekend after weekend, delivered a consistent message to me. “Forget the finish line — take it one gate at a time.”
This sage advice has stuck with me, long after his passing back in 2006. He was all about taking life one day at a time — not in a hippy-trippy kind of way, but rather as someone who acknowledged that the process was all that mattered. How it would all turn out is ironically exactly how it does turn out — it just does, and you can’t predict it or guarantee it. But embracing the process — and trying to deeply experience it — now that is living.
So while this train of thought is inscribed in my thinking (and tattooed on my skin as I pulled the words from a letter my dad wrote me), I still feel like I suck at taking it one gate at a time. To embody this philosophy is of course helpful in everyday life, but as an entrepreneur I have found that it is essential when starting a new company.
The number of questions that arise and decisions that must be made are never ending, and all of them could drive you into the nut house if you’re not careful. Each of these decisions, coupled with being on what is inevitably a hyper steep learning curve, always feels like the most important decision of your life. Should we take a direct to consumer approach or go B2B through the banks? Do we raise $500K in convertible debt, $750K in equity from angels or $1.5M from the institutional guys? What do we name the product? How should we best present ourselves at the conference next week? Should we outsource the development or fund it internally through stock options?
Fundamentally I know that starting a new company is all about rapid-fire decision making and being malleable throughout while still holding true to your beliefs and vision. It’s not easy — especially when you’re in you’re head wondering or worrying about whether it will all turn out just like you envision. Truth is, it will never turn out exactly like you want it to — never does it unfold just as you outlined it in the business plan. So here I sit, realizing again how cool my dad really was and remembering all there is to do is trust and enjoy the process. It’s all we’ve got.
With funds,
Chris
