Commandments of a Startup

The Commandments of the StartUp

This isn't mine, but from a usergroup I belong to on Facebook. It is helpful if you are starting your own business and want to know what other people are going through. It was put together by a group of people who have been there. Done that. If you are starting out on your own, this is good to read. Some of this is aimed directly at us computer geeks, but some of it can be helpful if you are just thinking about opening up a corner store.

Here are the "Commandments of a Startup":

1. Your idea isn't new. Pick an idea; at least 50 other people have thought of it. Get over your stunning brilliance and realize that execution matters more.

2. Stealth startups suck. You're not working on the Manhattan Project, Einstein. Get something out as quickly as possible and promote the hell out of it.

3. If you don't have scaling problems, you're not growing fast enough.

4. If you're successful, people will try to take advantage of you. Hope that you're in that position, and hope that you're smart enough to not fall for it.

5. People will tell you they know more than you do. If that's really the case, you shouldn't be doing your startup.

6. Your competition will inflate their numbers. Take any startup traffic number and slash it in half. At least.

7. Perfection is the enemy of good enough. Leonardo could paint the Mona Lisa only once. You, Bob Ross, can push a bug release every 5 minutes because you were at least smart enough to do a web app.

8. The size of your startup is not a reflection of your manhood. More employees does not make you more of a man (or woman as the case may be).

9. You don't need business development people. If you're successful, companies will come to you. The deals will still be distractions and not worth doing, but at least you're not spending any effort trying to get them.

10. You have to be wrong in the head to start a company. But we have all the fun.

11. Starting a company will teach you what it's like to be a manic depressive. They, at least, can take medication.

12. Your startup isn't succeeding? You have two options: go home with your tail between your legs or do something about it. What's it going to be?

13. If you don't pay attention to your competition, they will turn out to be geniuses and will crush you. If you do pay attention to them, they will turn out to be idiots and you will have wasted your time. Which would you prefer?

14. Startups are not a democracy. Want a democracy? Go run for class president, Bueller.

15. You're doing a web app, right? This isn't the 1980s. Your crummy, half-assed web app will still be more successful than your competitor's most polished software application.

16. You will have at least one catastrophe every three months.

17. Outsource effectively, or be effectively outsourced.

18. Do you thrive on stress and ambiguity? You'd better.

19. The best way to get outside funding is to be successful already. Stupid but true. But you, cheapskate, don't need money, right?

20. People will think your idea sucks. They're even probably right. The only way to prove them wrong is to succeed.

21. A startup will require your complete attention and devotion. Thought your first love in High School was clingy? You can't take out a restraining order on your startup.

22. Being an entrepreneur requires a healthy amount of ignorance. Note I did not say stupidity.

23. Your software sucks. So what. Everyone else's does also, and re-architecting is the kiss of death for a startup. Startups are no place for architecture astronauts.

24. You do have a public API (application programming interface), right?

25. Abject Terror. Overwhelming Joy. Monstrous Greed. Embrace and harness these emotions you must.

Losing the Safety Net...

Today was my last day at work. For those of you that do not know, I have been Director of Marketing for Acor Orthopaedic for the past seven years. We parted on good terms and I wish them nothing but the best. Even still, saying goodbye to my friends was bittersweet. I met a lot of great people there over the years. I keep in contact with some of them and some of my past co-workers have become clients. Today, I walked in and was surprised by a table full of food and drinks. My co-workers had thrown me a surprise going away party, which was great of them. I will miss them, but it is time to move on.

Today is also the first day that I become a full-time entrepreneur. I have been working on my business – www.mywebsource1.com – for almost two years now. We do internet marketing and web design for small businesses, local governments, and non-profits. I have four people working for me and now I have cut loose my safety net. Part of me is elated. The other part is scared to death. From everything I have read and from every business owner I have questioned, this is how I should feel and there is something wrong if I do not.

So, I am taking the weekend off to gather my thoughts (as if I haven’t been thinking about this) and Monday morning I am getting up at my regular time, getting ready for work, putting my shoes on and making my twelve foot commute to my home office. Think of the gasoline I am saving?

I am happy about my decision. I am happy that everything has occurred the way it did at Acor. I didn’t want to end it with a hassle and it went smoothly. That is the way things should be.