Templates by Niall Cleaver

You want the truth about building a startup. Here it is...

It's going to be much more challenging than you think.

But please remember:

All that has gone right.

All the skills you've developed.

All the obstacles you've overcome.

All the growth you've experienced.

All the incredible people you've met.

Think bigger, dream bigger and believe in yourself.

These challenging times will pass.

Stay focused!

How I approached building a startup.

And how you can do the same…

- I tried some things.

- I learned some things.

- I figured out some things.

You'll always have more obstacles than you think.

But not trying to get past these obstacles and quitting.

That keeps you in the same place you started.

You're better than this.

Take the time to figure out the problem

Then, take the time to fix the problem.

Fixing problems is what startups are all about.

When you do this, you move forward.

Please don't quit.

Entrepreneurs, I want you all to remember:

The longer it's taking, the closer you are getting.

It's easy to feel discouraged by the time it's taking.

But you've got to remember there's a reason for this.

- The lessons you're learning.

- The changes you're making.

- The progress you're having.

The moment you:

Stop looking at the time it's taking.

Start looking at the progress you're making.

It will be the moment you start enjoying the joruney.

Embrace where you are right now.

Most importantly, take it all in!

Today, I'm celebrating 25,000 of you.

I'm just a normal 23-year-old trying to build a business.

- I'm still living with my parents.

- I'm a dyslexic founder.

- I'm figuring life out.

That's it! There's nothing special about me.

But you guys make it seem much more special.

Thank you for all the support. I appreciate you all.

Message to all startup founders this Monday morning:

- Times will get tough

- You will feel scared

- Doubt will creep in

It's normal.

I've been through it.

But I want you to remember this:

It's a privilege. You're feeling what many aren't.

All because you decided to take action.

You're already ahead of so many.

You can do this!

Building a strong team is key to startup success. 🤝 Hire for attitude and train for skills! Look for team players who align with your company's values and culture. Remember, a positive attitude goes a long way, and skills can always be developed with proper training and guidance. Encourage open communication, promote a healthy work-life balance, and invest in your employees' personal and professional growth. As a leader, foster a supportive environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to your startup's success. #teamwork #Nigerianstartups

Startups, like math, have an order of operations.

Do them incorrectly and your startup dies.

Do them correctly and you can learn your way to success.

First, the problem. The closer you are to the problem the better. Primary research generates the insights that chart the path forward.

Then, solutions. Original insights about the problem illuminate potential solutions. Stay open minded. Novel solutions open doors to customers, talent and capital.

Last, the market. Understanding if and how customers pay helps evaluate the viability of a solution. Willingness and ability to pay shed light on value.

Be careful about the last step. Markets are dynamic and nuanced. Novel solutions can create new markets. Customers often struggle to price a novel solution. Technology, culture and regulations change.

Over-index on the problem and solution. They will write the market narrative for you.

Three guidelines to ensure success for a startup CEO:

1. Craft a purpose-driven vision that explains to the world “why what you do matters.” Companies that understand their “why” rather than merely their “what” and their “how” will always be more successful. Products don’t exist in a vacuum.

2. Create an operating culture that encourages risk-taking. If you don’t, and your team does their best to minimize mistakes, they’ll be motivated to do as little as possible. The less you do, the less mistakes you’re likely to make. Doing nothing is the only way to eliminate risks altogether.

3. Hire people better than you. Don’t hire clones. Hire people different than you, smarter than you, more experienced than you, and don’t micro-manage them. Let them do their jobs. And the corollary to this: Know what you don’t know. It’s OK to not now everything. In fact, it’s even better.

What it takes to be an introverted startup founder?

Working at a startup as an introvert has its unique challenges.

On one hand, I thrive in quiet solo work like coding. But team meetings and social events drain me.

I'm energised by creating innovative products. But making small talk with investors is outside my comfort zone.

----

Here are a few lessons I've learned:

--> I'm a thoughtful, focused listener. In hectic meetings, I take time to reflect before speaking up. This leads to better insights. It's easy to get overlooked compared to louder personalities. I've learned to speak up early, before the extroverts take over!

--> I prefer deep 1-on-1 conversations over group chats. This builds stronger connections with my team.

--> I often skip optional social events to recharge alone. But this can isolate me over time. So I make an effort to show up.

--> I don't mind working solo for long stretches. Headphones on, in the zone. This lets me tackle complex problems.

--> I can overdo it on solo work and avoid interactions. So I schedule regular check-ins with my team.

Overall, being an introvert forces me to be intentional about communication. But with self-awareness and balance, I can thrive as a startup founder.

Forge ahead 💜✌️

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#entrepreneurship

#founders

#startups

#introverts