Startup “Moments of Truth”
I chanced across this minimalistic slide deck on SlideShare. This is a bunch of the best startup mentors sharing their mantras in a single quote. While each quote is probably standalone, putting all of these together turns the deck into a inspirational masterpiece. Check it out…
This deck provokes me to come up with my own “startup moments of truth”. This is a distillation of what I have learnt in my entrepreneurial/startup journey. I make no claim that they are original, some are covered in the deck above, while some are cliches that you have certainly heard before. Nevertheless this is top of mind for me. Here you go… (the last four are oriented towards India and what the Indians startup space begets you)
- Startups work on Darwins theory: only the most flexible survive.
- Every startup is like a fingerprint, no two are alike.
- Steal ideas if you can; even Google did not invent internet advertising.
- In the mass market, do not listen to your most vocal customers.
- “Founderitis” could kill your startup.
- Being small is your BIGGEST weapon.
- Startups exist in the blind spot of the big companies.
- Simplicity is VERY HARD to achieve, whats easier to achieve is “absense of complexity”
India specific
- Education is HIGHLY overrated in India.
- Most people in startups DO NOT scale.
- Nine women cannot deliver a baby in one month.
- Startups are the melting pot for behavioral misfits.
Neeraj Tiwari on Mar 5, 2009
Each word is 100% correct in this article. Even, we as a startup faces the above and the quotes are direct hit on the nail.
I would like to say, the biggest problem that start up face (I have faced it..and got the lesson)..is focusing on too many things. When you start a idea, you have to stick to it and most importantly you should not ever and ever try to make a product 100% and than move forward.
Its my personal and thought and I always do this…I first shoot and than set target.
Lance on Mar 5, 2009
Thanks for the shout out. I don’t think anything I have ever done as been called an “inspirational masterpiece.” I am quite flattered. Thank you.