Things I’d Do Differently If My Startup Had a Reset Button
Question Every Step
Don’t be impulsive, be rational. Every step that you take should have a valid reason. Know that each move unveils a different fate and its consequences can ripple a long way. Taking actions without knowing the consequences or just because someone suggested it, can cause you a whole lot of trouble and can cost you a lot of time.
Don’t Be a Bottleneck
It’s good to keep check of what your team is upto. However, you should not and must not try to control everything to the point where nothing happens without you. If you are involved in too many things then you are basically crippling your team and saying “Nothing happens here without me”. Your team will lose confidence and start to rely on you even when they shouldn’t. You don’t want that as it kills the very purpose of a team.
As a rule of thumb; monitor and control only when the task in consideration is critical or irreversible, otherwise directions should do the work.
Automate Laborious Tasks
In hindsight, I have come to a conclusion that avoiding to automate day-to-day manual operations, just because it will cost time & resources, will do more harm than good. You will only end up wasting much more time in long run.
Envision The Other Side Of the Tunnel
Before taking a leap of faith make sure you have a clear sketch of WHY do you want to start a startup in first place. Or even better, ask yourself: What will you lose — direct or indirect — if you don’t do it?. If the thing at stake has value for you, your survival instincts will kick in and will keep you going even in direst of situations.
For example; You know drinking water is essential in desert VS You know if you DON’T drink water YOU COULD DIE. The second scenario will keep you on your toes. You become more cautious knowing that the thing at stake — your life — has a great value.
Your startup idea might be primed to become next big thing but if you are not willing to be in it when you hit rock-bottom then you should already quit. Because it doesn’t happen overnight. Well, in most cases it doesn’t. The reason why not to quit is what helps you survive the melancholy of this cruel startup journey.
If you liked my article, stay tuned! More coming soon…
