It is easy to give advice to a founder or criticize them when things go south. As long as he/she takes care of stakeholders’ interests, everything acts as a utopia. As an employee, consultant, investor, or press, it is easy to get annoyed over the founder’s action. I am not saying all founders are perfect. …
Category Archives: startups
control
Leadership is not about control or being right. It is about having beliefs and allowing peers to work independently. It will energize a team to go at any length and succeed. I am seeing a trend where leadership has ended up in micro-managing peers. Being always right has taken over working together. It also means …
Village
The next wave of India’s technological development is poised to happen in tier 3-4 cities. The infrastructure has gotten better and, most importantly, the connection among founders, team. People who go to IIT/IIM talks about networking. Imagine half a dozen school friends ending up building small Micro-SaaS, apps development, software testing, and turning entrepreneur eating, …
filter
A founder’s other important virtue is the art of filtering. Building a startup is no different than having a roller coaster ride or getting married. People are a priced asset and define success. It is too easy to get carried away by the opinions of others. It is easy to get stressed on the critical …
process
Marty Cagen’s Inspired has a simple success recipe for an organization. Hire a bunch of smart, independent people. Define a process, which has a roadmap and timelines. An outcome will be a successful product. I always had this back of my mind, and we have worked with amazing people all these last four years. A …
Maturity
Maturity comes with age and experience. I was a believer of it, not anymore. I think it is a mental construct and, more of it is about ourselves. People come on their reasons which fit their construct. In the end, one has to face themselves and their thoughts. How can we be vulnerable; we have …
grateful
I was on half a dozen calls last day. It made me feel how lucky I am; I had a sense of gratitude and was feeling very grateful at the same time. I had my mentors, customers, friends, and advisors around me to help me. There are days, times in life when you feel fucked …
paradox
Developing a product for a newer market is a black box. We know nothing; the market research and user interview have their limitations. A lot comes with the founder’s conviction and a limited set of anchor customers. It has been my learning while building B2B software for over four years. The brain gets tempted to …
alcohol
Why do we need alcohol to open up? I was with friends last evening and, one of the things they were complaining that I have so much to hide as I am not drunk. I assured that I am always naked with or without alcohol. Those who are closer to me know when being fucked …
Lessons to lead by
In the last chapter of the book, The ride of a lifetime, Robert Iger shares his life lessons. I am adding limited ones I could resonate well, read the book for the rest others : Great talents tell great stories. Innovate or die. Avoid mediocrity Take responsibility when you screw up. Treat everyone with fairness …