The Founder’s Journey: I am not going to sugarcoat this: You are never fully prepared It’s harder than you expect It’s challenging BUT It’s rewarding I don’t regret starting this journey AND - It’s going to push you so much out of your comfort zone That you will start researching “What is a comfort zone?” If, like me, you are all about continuous improvement and growth, you are a learned and problem solver - starting your gig is the 'Job' you were looking for. This is NOT a story of how I made $100K in the first eight months. But I am sharing some insights that are going to be helpful for those who are like me – just getting started and figuring out their success framework. 1. It’s still OK to fail (even if social media is covered with success stories). Principle: I would rather look stupid, learn, and grow than pretend to be successful and fail in the long run. Solution: Prioritization is key. Focus on what brings the most value to your customers and your business. Lesson: For a few months, I was all over the place. I started many small and big projects, but I realized I needed to stop and focus on the essential and long-term goals. 2. You are a Business Owner (you and your business colleagues have the same pain points, challenges and probably make the same mistakes. Think about the basics and build a strong foundation (e.g., I am still learning about marketing, sales, SEO, etc.; I am helping my business colleagues be cyber and risk-aware) Principle: It’s not about what you do but how you do it. Solution: Think Business Magic Quadrant (Time, Money, Resources, Expertise). Lesson: I needed to learn that I was not selling solutions but solving one or more of these challenges. 3. Scaling and Complexity Principle: If you think you can do it alone, don’t Solution: Find trusted partners, outsource when needed, scale as the business grows, and manage complexity. Lesson: Thinking that I could do everything by myself was a big mistake. For that very reason, I partnered with leaders in the industry – so I can do things right and the right thing every single time. Find the right partner. What are some of the lessons you needed to learn the hard way? What is the ONE THING that made you successful? How did you overcome challenges?
Thanks for sharing this Codrut A. We need founders like you sharing honest insights to know what one is heading towards and how to stay in the game in the face of challenges which are an inevitable part of any successful founder's journey 😊
Cybersecurity Strategist & Advisor | Problem Solver | Founder | Speaker | Consultant
3moThank you Sean T..