Having a startup and a baby is like having a startup and a baby. It is busy. It is hectic. You are in early developmental stages with a child and a company — and they frequently fall down, take unsteady steps, and often make a really big mess.
As the mother of a 15 month old, and a co-founder at a 12 month old startup, I see similarities every day. Here’s a list of ten ways they are alike:
- Kids and Teams grow in unique ways. Every kid is different, and every startup is different. One might have a growth spurt early and then slow down, while another will see plenty of growth late in the game. So you need to talk to people who understand you, your child, or your startup specifically. General advice can be useful, but it’s far less important than targeted advice from someone who knows your product/team/child’s personality well.
- The initial conception is so much fun! Seriously, there’s incredible creativity and passion that goes into beginning these endeavors. The ideating, the naming, the dreaming. The hard and unrelenting work comes later — after you’ve committed!
- Never hire out of desperation. As Rob Hayes from First Round Capital says, “Hire the right people.” Nothing will affect your success more than your first hires. And you want them to be stellar, because the…
