Blackbox’s Post

The formula for successful startups doesn't exist, not really. But there are attributes that can be markers of founders and teams that are on their way to getting where they want to go. As far as jargon and acronyms go, you could do a lot worse than ALICE Attitude Leadership Incentives Consistency Empowerment Think of how all these are or are not coming through in your business. There's usually room for improvement, none of us are perfect. We can only accomplish our goals by getting better little by little over time. The greatest of all time got that way through practice, purposeful practice. How are you improving your game?

*Don't Wait Too Long! Address Communication Hurdles Before They Trip You Up!* Exciting times! Will Barfield and I introduced the Startup Culture of Communication Workshop, part of our Work In Progress Leadership Series™, and wow - people are really seeing the value! So, most startups don’t make it, right? A lot of times, it’s because of communication problems. The quick talks and shortcuts that worked when you started just don’t cut it when your company gets bigger. And usually, communication troubles show up at the worst times. 😬 Founders, here’s a tip: Don’t think, “I’ll fix this later!” That later might never come. Our workshop can help you tackle these challenges now, and it’s geared for early-stage startups. Don’t wait till it’s too late! If this hits a nerve, or if you know someone who might be interested, give me a shout. Startups, it’s time to level up your communication game! #Startups #Communication #Leadership #BusinessDevelopment #Entrepreneurship

One of the most important things in any startup is the people. The founders, the team - all those who are there to basically make sure that the great idea gets rockstar execution. Because at the end of the day that is the key differentiator: Execution. And being able to correctly assess up front whether the founders and key employees have the necessary skills and experience to go execute and win is key to being able to make great investments. Show me one startup that were s*** at execution but still made it to the top 🤔 #startup #founders #leadership #execution https://lnkd.in/dFqQQSB9

Day 19: The Founder as a 'Merchant of Hope' for an early stage startup I had discussed multiple founder roles to be played in an early stage startup in yesterday's post. I wanted to zoom in a little more into one of the most key and specialized roles a CEO has to play in an early stage startup The #1 role played by a CEO is that of a 24 * 7 'Merchant of Hope'. Selling hope is the most important thing he or she plays with multiple actors: With customers 1. Reinforcement that their problem is painful and there is hope to get it alleviated 2. Belief that you, your team and your solution are the right path and 3. Confidence even though you show a fraction of vision through an MVP that more holistic answers will keep coming With co-founders and early employees In 99% of cases, co-founders and early employees are going to be paid below market in an early stage company. The biggest fuel whether its motivation or the ESOPs they trust on is hope in the company and more importantly the CEO or Day 0 founder(s) . This will be the case for early employees too till recursively it becomes the job of this cohort of early employees to sell the same hope to their successors With investors Whether its an angel or a VC or a family member in case you are bootstrapping they have to be sold solid hope of the startup's legitimacy, potential and capability Of course ultimately the company has to deliver and improve itself daily but for a long time selling hope is an integral part of the CEO and founding team's responsibilities #foundermindset #founderjourney #startups #leadership #ship30for30

As Intrapreneurs, we want to build a successful startup and have always aimed for a scalable enterprise. Here is a quick video covering six key points on what it takes to build a successful startup. This insight is the result of meeting multiple founders and gathering their input. Today, managing clients, whether they are internal or external, is crucial, and finding the right leader for your organisation is key to building a successful startup. #1:Be nice and kind to people #2 Just go and do it, take a leap of faith #3 Learn to Deal with Emotions #4 Build a great company with quality and maintain throughout #5 Be persistent, do not leave it #6 Have a great team, empower them, and give them power if they fail...you take the blame Leave your comments and share your views. Let's keep the conversation going to understand how to build a successful startup and contribute to the knowledge-based economy. . #leadershipqualities #mindsetmatters #mindsetcoaching #influencer #leadershipbyexample #leadership #startuplife #startupcompany #peoplematter #clientcentricity #impact #organisationalculture #leadershipbyexample #leadership #mindsetmatters #growthmindset #growingtogether #employeeengagement https://lnkd.in/gZQH4tzs

Common Growing Startup Problem: The Visionary-Executor Gap Founders, does this sound familiar? You have a crystal-clear vision of the future, but turning it into reality feels like pushing a boulder uphill. Signs you're facing this challenge: • Your team seems to miss the 'big picture' • You're bursting with ideas, but execution falls flat • Day-to-day operations leave you constantly frustrated You're not alone. This gap between visionary thinking and practical execution is a common hurdle in the startup journey. The solution? Building a leadership team that can translate your bold ideas into actionable plans. 🤔 Reflection for founders: How are you bridging the gap between vision and execution in your startup? #StartupChallenges #VisionToExecution #FounderProblems

Common Growing Startup Problem: The Visionary-Executor Gap Founders, does this sound familiar? You have a crystal-clear vision of the future, but turning it into reality feels like pushing a boulder uphill. Signs you're facing this challenge: • Your team seems to miss the 'big picture' • You're bursting with ideas, but execution falls flat • Day-to-day operations leave you constantly frustrated You're not alone. This gap between visionary thinking and practical execution is a common hurdle in the startup journey. The solution? Building a leadership team that can translate your bold ideas into actionable plans. 🤔 Reflection for founders: How are you bridging the gap between vision and execution in your startup? #StartupChallenges #VisionToExecution #FounderProblems

The Startup Founder’s Journey   Building a startup is exciting and exhausting.   ➡️ It can seem like a race to scale, but it actually takes 2-3x longer than founders expect to validate their business model.   So what should founders prioritize in the early days of their startups? ✅ Ensure adequate cash flow by solving a real-life problem that customers will pay you for. ✅ Focus on a minimum viable product to gain traction. The full-fledged product will take lots of iteration. ✅ Build your personal brand so that customers and industry peers see you as a leader. ✅ Learn from early customer feedback to improve your product-market fit. ✅ Take care of yourself. Startup success is a marathon and things rarely get easier.   Have you experienced the startup curve? Let me know below!👇   #founder #startup #leadership #strategy

6 key points to build a successful startup.

Have you ever encountered a pivot? How did your company handle it? A pivot is one of the most crucial points in a startup's journey. When done right, it can breathe new life into a struggling company and set it on a path to success. But it requires bold leadership and courageous decision-making. Whether you're changing your target audience, altering your product or service, or even switching industries altogether – remember that the key to a successful pivot is in developing a strategic plan that aligns with your new goal. It's not easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is. Have you navigated a pivot before? Share your experiences below – let's learn from each other! #startup #pivot