The current structure of start-ups has come eerily similar to the corporate rat race, the one they were trying to escape.
The Culture
Start-up has historically been seen as an ‘escape option’. The dreamland of money and ambition. So its not really surprise when the founders get caught in the self-fulfilling mentality. Not only detrimental to the start-up it places the creators on a pedestal of their own ego. Eliciting a sense of wonder, hope, adoration, they forget they need to survive too. The subjects and approaches to the creation of ideas are bounded only by the imagination of the creator. Yet, the implementation of these ideas is not as concrete.
“The problem of rat race is even if you win you’re still a rat.”
-Lily Tomlin
Limiting yourself
The companies in the early stages are looking out for their competition and trying hard to better themselves. But can you see the fault in this? By classifying someone as competition you are essentially using them as a standard to measure yourself and your creation. Aren’t standards stripped down to its basic form just limitations. It’s not that the competition is bad. It’s just that we must realize that we are humans of immeasurable creativity and ambition. Patiently evaluating yourself is a rare quality. Worrying about other people stealing or plagiarizing has resulted in founders living in the rat race.
The Rat Race
Every single time we study, or do something, we should have a view that it’s making us and our company better at the end of the day. It should not be done just for the sake for it. Yes, having competition might be motivational, it might promote healthy competition. Yet at the end of the day its a useless tussle which indirectly wastes time and patience. Your only competition should be your past self. This results in appreciating the value of time and hard work. Sometimes, good things take time to grow. History has shown, even the most powerful empire will fall if it isn’t able to build on past successes and recognize necessary changes. In order for a business to be successful in its early years, it has to establish a niche for itself. In the long-run, however, being too niche can lead to collapse. The last thing you want to do is box yourself in.
Escaping the race
Finding your soul might seem like philosophical solution and very pretentious at that too. Yet the soul of the company is the only escape from the race. Loyalty to customers and the company is the “core essence” of what makes your business great. A shared purpose built around an audacious goal and a set of common values is the soul of the company. Focusing on this soul will help the founders realize what the company is and will be. And if nothing happens at least the time wasted thinking on this will help expand your patience!
Conclusion
Concluding, we would like to think we have inspired or confused you.
Anyways, stay tuned for more articles from Up Studio!
