Startup Process
Passion as a Priority
24/03/12 10:04
The driving force behind why people start startups is likely to vary wildly across different industries and types of business. For many it’s the promise of lucrative return - from sales of product or selling their eventual company. For some it’s the burning desire to fill a perceived gap in the market - ‘if I want this, surely 3 million other people will want one too’. Perhaps for others it’s curiosity, or a need to be in charge of their own destiny, or all of the above.
One thing that does seem to be consistent across most startups I’ve heard about though, is passion. Passion for your product, or your industry, or your idea.
As a wise man (Dave ten Have from Ponoko) told me recently, “it’s certain that at some point everything will feel awful and pointless and you’ll be questioning why you’re doing this, it’s then you need passion to get you through the hump and carry on” (slightly paraphrased).
I certainly agree that believing in something, being passionate about it whether it’s money or product is a vital part of being prepared to go through the various aspects of startup pain.
Mark Cuban however feels this is a bunch of BS (in that quaint american way). He has a point, passion only gets you so far - hard work and effort will make you succeed far more than passion will.
For sure you need to put in the hard work and effort. You need commitment, money and time. You need the right skills in your team, an understanding of your market, good networks and a host of other things.
I’ve spent the last couple of months working through the planning for my startup idea and I’ve worked it through to a point where I know what needs to happen. But along the way the concept evolved into something I just can’t get as excited about as the original idea.
So my question now is do you need passion as well? If you’re not passionate about your startup business, should you just not be in it?
One thing that does seem to be consistent across most startups I’ve heard about though, is passion. Passion for your product, or your industry, or your idea.
As a wise man (Dave ten Have from Ponoko) told me recently, “it’s certain that at some point everything will feel awful and pointless and you’ll be questioning why you’re doing this, it’s then you need passion to get you through the hump and carry on” (slightly paraphrased).
I certainly agree that believing in something, being passionate about it whether it’s money or product is a vital part of being prepared to go through the various aspects of startup pain.
Mark Cuban however feels this is a bunch of BS (in that quaint american way). He has a point, passion only gets you so far - hard work and effort will make you succeed far more than passion will.
For sure you need to put in the hard work and effort. You need commitment, money and time. You need the right skills in your team, an understanding of your market, good networks and a host of other things.
I’ve spent the last couple of months working through the planning for my startup idea and I’ve worked it through to a point where I know what needs to happen. But along the way the concept evolved into something I just can’t get as excited about as the original idea.
So my question now is do you need passion as well? If you’re not passionate about your startup business, should you just not be in it?
Comments
Business Modelling
19/01/12 17:16
The team from Bright Ideas Challenge have put together an excellent resource list for anyone starting off on the great startup journey. Last year I was not quite prepared enough to get through their process, hopefully this year I’ll have my plans in better shape. They were extremely helpful in the brief interaction I did have and look to provide valuable support to entrepreneurs and businesses getting underway.
I have to say though I struggle to get past the sheer awfulness of this presentation from one of their experts - in terms of layout, design and conveying information it’s hard to give credibility to someone who so blatantly misses the mark of how to present information. To be fair he does a better job in person than via powerpoint … but still.
However what I am excited about is what seems like a fantastic resource: the Business Model Generation iPad toolbox app and book. I’m really looking forward to working with the iPad Toolbox app, which seems to do everything I need to start off my planning, it’s pared the process back to clean and simple, has clear guidelines and excellent online help and the book is well written, informative and relevant to our times. I’ll keep you posted!
I have to say though I struggle to get past the sheer awfulness of this presentation from one of their experts - in terms of layout, design and conveying information it’s hard to give credibility to someone who so blatantly misses the mark of how to present information. To be fair he does a better job in person than via powerpoint … but still.
However what I am excited about is what seems like a fantastic resource: the Business Model Generation iPad toolbox app and book. I’m really looking forward to working with the iPad Toolbox app, which seems to do everything I need to start off my planning, it’s pared the process back to clean and simple, has clear guidelines and excellent online help and the book is well written, informative and relevant to our times. I’ll keep you posted!
What's in a name?
19/01/12 13:37
The first big task of getting started is updating all the various bits of online information that describe who I am and what I do. So far I’ve kept my Facebook and Twitter presence to be fairly personal, so it’s not relevant there. But Linked In is a very important business marketing tool - not just for any relevant contacts to my new business, but also to maintain local and international networks and connections relevant to my recent or future work. Then there are business cards to be printed, blogs to update and an identity to create.
Choked at the first hurdle.
How do I describe myself in two or three words? What’s my title? Project Director - a bit too prescriptive, Internet Entrepreneur - a bit wanky, Digitial Maven - I think I need to be in my 20s for that one … Internet Consultant - the dreaded C word, and yet probably the cleanest descriptor.
Has it really come to this? How can such a seemingly innocuous task can become so huge! I’m obviously not the only one with this problem though.
Next up, naming my startup - now that’ll be a challenge.
Choked at the first hurdle.
How do I describe myself in two or three words? What’s my title? Project Director - a bit too prescriptive, Internet Entrepreneur - a bit wanky, Digitial Maven - I think I need to be in my 20s for that one … Internet Consultant - the dreaded C word, and yet probably the cleanest descriptor.
Has it really come to this? How can such a seemingly innocuous task can become so huge! I’m obviously not the only one with this problem though.
Next up, naming my startup - now that’ll be a challenge.
Clearing the way
17/01/12 11:35
For the past four years I have had a truly excellent job. It was however a fairly all encompassing job, one which made it pretty difficult to do very much else. And for the past ten years or so I’ve also had an idea for a business tumbling around in my head. So a month ago I finished up my job and I’ve spent the last few weeks clearing out the various tasks and projects that remained to be done so that I can focus for a while on my idea.
Interestingly this might be the only time in the last fifteen years or so that I can recall getting almost no email. Facebook, Twitter and texting have taken over any personal communications, I’ve unsubscribed from almost all the random things I have received in the last few months and I have no business emails coming in. Inbox zero every day - Peace! For now anyway. It does feel a bit like I’ve removed myself from the world.
So the decks are now cleared, I have no legitimate distractions. I’m ready to sit down and digest some of the sage advice from Rowan Simpson about startups and figure out if my idea has legs.
Interestingly this might be the only time in the last fifteen years or so that I can recall getting almost no email. Facebook, Twitter and texting have taken over any personal communications, I’ve unsubscribed from almost all the random things I have received in the last few months and I have no business emails coming in. Inbox zero every day - Peace! For now anyway. It does feel a bit like I’ve removed myself from the world.
So the decks are now cleared, I have no legitimate distractions. I’m ready to sit down and digest some of the sage advice from Rowan Simpson about startups and figure out if my idea has legs.