You learn far more from starting a start-up than from years of education.

For those of you who want to launch a startup but don’t have the business or tech background, you have to hear Sarah’s story. She doesn’t have the resume of your typical entrepreneur. At McGill University, she was a student athlete with an interest in human behaviour. Tech and business were the last things on her mind.

At only 23 years old, I was surprised how Sarah would have so many wise insights that resonated with me. A few minutes in to our phone call, I felt like I could easily connect with her. Maybe it was partly because we are around the same age and like me, she didn’t have a tech background, but what really got me hooked was her outgoing, warm personality and incredible passion. I would have to say this was one of my favourite conversations of all time.

You learn far more from starting a start-up than from years of education. — Sarah Main

SARAH MAIN: CEO & CO-FOUNDER OF REACH

Reach is a virtual classroom helping students stay engaged anytime, anywhere and most importantly, helping you stay on top of your game. It’s designed to enhance productivity where it heightens group and project management as students can use the interactive calendar, share files, collaborate on projects, and plan meetings.

A few key takeaways…

Start by surrounding yourself with a great network of advisors.

To make up for her little business and tech knowledge, she found successful professionals who she could learn from. At this time, Sarah didn’t even have a product or money so she offered them part equity in her business. She carefully chose advisors who were thought leaders in their respective industries.

This became an amazing resource for her during her startup journey. Whenever she encountered an issue, whether it be about marketing, sales, tech, or legal, she would reach out to one of her advisors who would be able to help her. Who better to ask than someone who knows the in’s and out’s of their industry? Not only did they guide her but they brought a lot of credibility to the table. They supported her and gave her introductions to people who she could hire and work with.

Curious how Sarah created her support network? She began her search on LinkedIn, proactively reaching out to people for coffee. She chose people who were not only knowledgeable leaders in the industry, but those who shared similar interests. She sent tons of personalized messages talking about her idea and a bit of their time so she could pick their brains. 9 times out of 10, people said yes. For those who said no, she followed up by asking if they could connect her with someone they think could help her. It starts with simply reaching out.

Do thorough research before you launch your startup.

One of the things Sarah would redo if she could go back to the early startup days was do more research. Meet with professionals who can give you feedback and incredible knowledge you wouldn’t find elsewhere. Also, share your idea with anyone who would listen. They can also provide great insight and perspectives. It is incredibly valuable before you invest money and time and go full throttle with your idea.

Everything takes twice as long and twice as much money.

Always have a back up plan. Understand what could go wrong and how to get around those setbacks. One of the biggest takeaways for Sarah was learning how to be emotionally stable. Over time, she learned how to channel her emotions.

For example, throughout the startup journey, obstacles will appear all the time. Don’t waste time on being upset about what didn’t happen or what you could have done. Instead, focus your energy on the present. You have 100 other more important current issues to solve. People understand that problems come up. If you look prepared, they’ll be more than willing to work with you.

Use Twitter as a Business Tool rather than just a social network.

Follow top CEOs, CTOs, product designers etc. from silicon valley startup who share great content. It’s a great resource to get insight into what they read to learn, to be inspired, and to get to where they are.

Go above and beyond when following up with people.

As we all know, you have your hands full as an entrepreneur. It’s easy to forget the small things. If you’ve scheduled a meeting with a mentor, investor, or customer, send a calendar invite. It helps easy the load off their busy lives, making them happier to help you out. After the meeting, send a quick thank you note for their time. Little things that show your gratitude can go a long way.

Hey I’m Celine, Content Creator for Launch Academy and a 3rd year marketing student at the Sauder School of Business of the University of British Columbia. Follow me as I share my conversations with local entrepreneurs.

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