10 things I’ve learned in my first year of startup life

Callum Sharp Writes

Published in

The Startup

4 min readMay 4, 2018

I graduated from university with one goal in mind: I didn’t want to work for a large company.

I still don’t.

Corporations come with too much red tape. I wanted to work in an entrepreneurial, fast-moving and challenging environment.

So, as a writer, I opted for a content marketing startup.

The agency I work for are in the top seven percent of the fastest growing startups in the UK. We’re a platinum certified HubSpot partner and an ever-growing community of friendly, geeky writers and marketers.

But it took me six months to find this remote-working job. I declined a job at Universal Music straight out of University because I didn’t want an office job, and I’ve never looked back.

Here’s what I’ve learned in the year I’ve been at a startup.

1. Process is more important than outcome

Obvious, right? What I mean by this, however, may not necessarily be what you think. The definition of how to do a job at a startup is forever changing. You forge your own path. Big business comes with structure and process already in place. Startups do not.

2. Learn from business decision makers

I work directly under my boss. My boss is the CEO. I’m in on sales calls, I’m in on quarterly strategy calls, website development calls, content planning calls and review calls.

I learn about what it takes to own and run a business every day.

3. Don’t take sh*t from anyone

The client isn’t always right. Just because you’re a small business it doesn’t mean you’re there to ‘serve’ those around you. You have the power to say no to work, to turn down client requests and decline to work harder than necessary.

4. Work more than 40-hours a week

On the contrary, you need to put in the hours where it counts, and much of that means working beyond the nine to five. I assume this is similar for those high up at big businesses. It seems to go full circle. You work hard when you’re a startup, cruise through the middle ground of working a mid-level role and then work hard again as you start taking control of the steering wheel. That middle ground is limbo. It’s dangerous. It’s complacent. Don’t settle in that grey area.

5. Your website stands for everything

If there’s anything I’ve learned from my time in marketing, it’s that word-of-mouth is essential to growth. But how are those who’ve been recommended your business supposed to validate you?

Your website, then, is everything. Testimonials, great content and case studies validate your startup. It’s about becoming a trusted thought leader. Nothing more.

7. Define your own career trajectory

Because boundaries are constantly being defined in startups, you have the opportunity to lead your company in a certain direction. Sure, it involves constant R&D, but if you love process enough and can bring a new service to fruition, and consequently sell it to your clients, you’re doing something right.

8. Learn new tricks. Teach new tricks

Startups know very little. Fact. They’re not specialists, they’re not defined, they’re not settled into their niche. Your opportunity to define that path, then, is massive.

Spend most of your time developing strategy. Learn new insights, tools, techniques and focus on efficiency and process. Then teach the rest of your company your findings.

9. Don’t wait for work

The above, however, requires a certain mindset. If you’re employed by a startup, you yourself are an entrepreneur. You’ve been hired to think freely and act freely. Don’t wait to be instructed. Make work for yourself.

10. Break, little and often

Finally, work/life balance is essential. Startup culture either promotes all work/no play or it promotes a balanced working lifestyle. Adopt the latter to ensure you don’t burn out.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Play the long game.

Thanks for reading. If you liked this piece, there’s more to come — be sure to hit the follow button and subscribe to The Startup. If you really liked it, visit my website Callum Sharp Writes for more.