|
Author: Wil Schroter Article source: http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/. Used with author's permission.
When it comes to a startup, the luxuries shared with established companies are few and far between. Chief among them is the luxury to close at the end of the day. Big companies have the benefits of capital, customers and receivables. Startups, on the other hand, have jack squat. They need to work twice as hard to make half as much, and even then they're not working nearly enough.
If you had any delusions going into this new venture that things were going to be easy and you were going to be on your own schedule then let me serve as your wake-up call. A startup runs like a casino - it's all about making money, it's a huge gamble, and no matter what, a startup never closes!
Your new business hours: every waking moment
Working like a slave is the norm in a startup company, not the exception. When I started my first company, Blue Diesel, I didn't see my family, celebrate Christmas, or take a weekend day off for three years. After a while I forgot that people go home on the weekends and sick days shouldn't be considered a vacation. Sure, I was demented, but I wasn't alone.
Startups realize that in order to get ahead they need to trade their time (and their lives) for the good of the company. You can only accomplish so much by working smart - the rest just comes down to lots and lots of hours.
Even if you've go the stamina to put this kind of time in, it doesn't necessarily mean the rest of your team does. Make sure that everyone is well aware of what is expected of them and what they're signing up for.
Set Clear Expectations, And Live by Them
It's always helpful to let people know what they are getting into before they get started. Inform potential employees during the interview that the demands of a startup are far and beyond anything of a regular 9-to-5 job. Let them know that you don't think twice about working weekends or into the evening and that you expect the same of them. You'll find that the clock-punchers won't return your phone calls and the truly insane will show up on Monday with a case of Red Bull. It's a twisted form of "natural selection".
And remember, the pace of a startup starts with you, so it's important that you set a tone by consistent example. Don't expect your team to show up before you and leave after you. You need to demonstrate that if sacrifices are going to be made, that you are as willing to make them as anyone. Action speaks a whole lot louder than words.
How to know you're working for a startup
Let me give you some indicators to let you know when you're truly working for a startup. I'll give these to you Jeff Foxworthy style. If you really don't know what day it is, you're probably working for a startup. If you know the number for pizza delivery to your office by heart, you're probably working for a startup. If you look forward to holidays because you'll miss traffic and get to work ten minutes sooner, you're probably working for a startup. Welcome to your new life.
Send 5:01 home
Not everyone will be on board with this "every waking hour" schedule. In fact, you'll inevitably hire the guy who will quickly become known as "5:01". We call him 5:01 because when the clock strikes 5:01, his stuff is already packed up and he's heading out the door. This is a problem because startups don't close at 5:00 - they leave when the job is done.
When the rest of the team is working around the clock and forgoing all sleep, 5:01 is going to be about as popular as cancer. This isn't to say that 5:01 isn't a good guy who can do good work. There's plenty of room for him - just not in a startup.
The Star that Burns Brightest Burns Fastest
There's a real downside to this schedule and that's burnout. You can only run the engine at red line for so long - eventually it's going to explode. Knowing this, you need to give you and your team a well-deserved break from time to time. When your performance slows down all the extra hours in the world won't make up for it. Don't be afraid to take a pit stop from time to time and refresh. Get as far away from work as possible and just unwind.
It better be worth it
Needless to say, if you are going to make a sacrifice this great, you had better feel extremely passionately about what you are doing. In the end, when you make your dream a reality, the payoff will be worth it. Until then, put this column down, chug another Mountain Dew, and get back to work!
- Wil Wil Schroter is a serial entrepreneur, author, and public speaker. Wil has been recognized as U.S. Small Business Person of the Year, twice as the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year (1999 & 2004), and is a member of the Business First Top 40 under forty. Connect directly with Wil at wschroter@yahoo.com. Visit http://www.goBIGnetwork.com.
Vacation Getaways and Healthy Living Tips
Going away on a vacation brings numerous benefits. It refreshes our enthusiasm, helps us to know ourselves a little better, and makes us, upon our return home, ...
Keys To Network Marketing
Keys to Network Marketing Success...
The Secret Science Of Online Shopping
In theory you could create a retail web site with a limitless selection; an online store where every kind of merchandise known to man could be sold. Would peopl...
What a Ghostwriter Can Do for You
Being published in local or national media--or your own industry's trade press--is the best kind of free publicity. Promotional articles can generate results ri...
Updated Bathrooms Pay When You Sell Your Home
Many home owners look for ways to add value to their homes through improvements. One of the best ways is to have a go at your bathrooms.
Plants, Herbs, And Roots For Love
In the column Plants, Herbs and Roots For Prosperity, I explain in detail how to practically use a plant material to attract things to you, so refer to that if ...
Health Savings Account (HSA): Helpful for Older People?
The Health Savings Account (HSA) is a hot topic these days. It is a top tool to help each of us save money on health insurance. But does it help the older perso...
Optimism, the Only Option for Success
People with negative attitudes may wonder why they never achieve the degree of success they desire. It is a fact of life that if you want to succeed, you must b...
A Picture Paints a Thousand Words and Creates Auction Euphoria on eBay
eBay is fast becoming one of the greatest, and easiest, opportunities to supplement your income on a regular basis. Sellers literally waste hundreds of opportun...
Can I Give My Dog The Flu?
Everyone seems on edge about the latest outbreak of avian flu. People in China are told to kill their poultry in order to keep the virus from spreading. Meanwhi...
Poker Tournaments
Most people believe that poker tournaments are for the most experienced and most aggressive poker players. But this is simply just not true. There are actually ...
Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe, With Which Meditation Should I Go?
Whenever I've taught meditation there'd be those that immediately 'got it', and those who found it a struggle. However, with continued practise and learning ho...
7 Suggestions for an i-Mom Friendly Web Site (e-commerce news and statistics)
Women now account for 51.7% of Internet usage according to a 2005 Lucid marketing study but that's only the tip of iceberg. When it comes to online purchasing,...
Eat More, Weigh Less
With these simple dieters tips you may be able to turn the tables on your weight loss success.
Protect Yourself From Cell Phone Radiation
With cell phones quickly becoming an important part of our everyday lives, it's frightening to think that the radiation from cellular phones may cause health pr...
Real Estate Investing Deals That SkyRocket Your Net Worth 10-Fold
Are you a newbie or frustrated real estate investor? This article cuts through the mountains and complexities of real estate investing and introduces you to th...
9 Home Buyer Traps and How to Avoid Them
A systemized approach to the home buying process can help you steer clear of these common traps, allowing you to not only cut costs, but also secure the home th...
Help With Debt Problems
Here are some tips to help you with debt problems.
Selling the Dr. Seuss Way
"I am Sam. Sam I am. Do you like green eggs and ham? Would you like them here or there? Would you like them in a box, would you like them with a fox?"
Finding Your Target Market
No marketing method or sales tactic is worth a darn if you don't first target the right people. Find out how to find your target market and how it can work for ...
Theres Only One Way to Achieve Your Goal
If you're looking to lose weight, build muscle, get fit or whatever you goal may be, I'd like you to go in a straight line towards that goal, whatever it is.
Tips for Maximizing AdSense Revenue
In this article, I hope to help you maximize your revenue earning potential with Google's AdSense by teaching you about how to display your ads, creative effect...
Be Prepared when Seeking a Mortgage
When you're looking for a mortgage, whether it's a first time loan or you're taking advantage of an opportunity to refinance an existing mortgage, it may seem t...
From Savu to Infrared – The History and Health Benefits of Saunas
The health benefits of saunas are not a recent discovery. The use of steam or smoke baths to cleanse the body and reduce stress has been a part of religious, so...
|
Print this page