Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
About the Author
About the Author
About the Author

Founder Edition: Start-Up or Small Business. A new best of both. Stand for Today While Leaning In for the Future for Growth

Being Human for a Better Tomorrow in the Age of AI

  • August 2, 2024
  • 9th and Founder Special Edition
founder edition

The origin and evolution of every new business is unique a life form of one. A rare combination of founder knowledge, skills, insight, audacity and tenacity of each firm makes an compelling story .Employees, customers, investors bought into the founder vision and story to get the business to where it is today.

That said, the present is sum of past. All intelligence and energies are directed to growth in the future by natural life and so it should be for business.

From my experience of working with founders and study, the right mindset, planning, execution and Founder care can be a guide for growth :

I. Mindset -Start-Up or a Small Business or define a hybrid which is a new best of both

Traditionally, there’s a sharp distinction between a Start-Up and a Small Business, primarily in their future orientation:

  • A Start-Up has no legacy, seeks to disrupt, prioritizes pace over process, and augments resources by getting employees and investors as stakeholders.
  • A Small Business has an existing model, seeks to differentiate, emphasizes efficiency, and optimizes processes for sustainable profit and stability.

However, founders can blend the best from both in a hybrid mindset, running today as a small business while co-existentially building a start-up for the future.

This is the “Stand Up While Leaning in Future” mindset.

II. Plan and Goal Setting - 1, 2, and 3 year horizon of combined business:

Set goals that are:
  • Rich in meaning (e.g., 'highest growth', $x revenue - getting to scale, top ratings in peer/customer/analyst reviews)
  • Aspirational yet doable
Considers well known models and frameworks such as (examples)
  • Michael Porters 5 forces framework
  • Blue Ocean Strategy
  • 3E framework for product/service mix - Explore (new) , Exploit (Optimise) and Expand. (Scale)
  • Scenario planning - Andy Grove - Strategic Inflection Points and Healthy Paranoia
  • Partnerships - Alliance Framework by Yves Doz and Gary Hamel

III. Execution - Resourcing Talent, Capital and Governance

  • Align execution from goal to strategy, to people and operations

  • Develop and or hire sell and build dual capability leadership
     
  • Implement Leadership co- ownership models to gain commitment and alignment equity, or dividends and bonus from profit for payout and co investment (partner)

  • Make a functional leadership team ( overcome dysfunctions – absence of trust, feat of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability,
    inattention to results)

  • Form an advisory board – a mix for both go to market and strategy and execution

  • Establish monthly, quarterly, annual review cycle alignment of strategy and operations

  • Consider institutional fund raise – if not the core business a tech spin off / subsidiary to leverage and capitalise on IP, data and assets to create product as a service (old) and service as a product (new !)

IV. Founder care - taking time out for well-being, rejuvenation and companionship

Founders are why the business exists and their well-being, energy and resourcefullness are the source of growth. Their strengths and limitations shape the future and their time is the most expensive and valuable resource.

Unfortunately for founders, almost every available hour is taken in endless meetings, escalations driven by the urgent or just taking too many initiatives. There is a need to cut needless and make time for what only they and no one else can do and also on self care.

While there is a lot of literature on strategy and execution little is spoken of founder care to:

  • Take time out for well-being with self and family time. Doing the important which only you can do and not, limiting initiatives and delegating are definitive ways to get more done and gives space and time to service silent partners - self and family!
  • Many business run out of energy before running out of cash. Recharge is different from rest. Pursuing passions and being can ironically may be the biggest help in business.
  • Being a founder can be lonely. Someone to simply listen or advice without interest and with competence can be a great help to manage duality of being in the present and in the future.

Together these four elements – mindset, plan, execute and founder care give a holistic perspective to not only live for the day but create a thriving tomorrow.

Mighty oaks grow from little acorns. Any business has the potential to stand tall by standing for today and leaning in.

Amazingly in this game of growth. there are no losers. Founders, employees, customers, partners, investors , society, everyone wins.

I hope these insights help.
Please subscribe, follow and share, Your comments and feedback are very welcome.


Best wishes.

Select Quotes

"If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there.”
― Scaling Up Verne Harnish
"The visionary sets the direction; the integrator executes the plan."
― Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark Cuker
"Everyone knows what to do and how to do it."
― Traction by Gino Wickman
"Trust is the foundation of real teamwork. Without it, a team is like a house of cards.”
― The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
"Take care of yourself first. You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
― Arianna Huffington
"We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change.”
― Sherry Sandberg Former COO Facebook
“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.”
― Oprah Winfrey
"I’ve never had anyone really help me think through things. And that’s the most valuable thing, whether it’s a friend or an advisor, someone to help you see things differently.”
― Steve Jobs Naval Ravikant
“Value your time at an hourly rate and ruthlessly spend to save time at that rate”
"A busy calendar and a busy mind will destroy your ability to create anything great."

II. Questioning / Asking

Good conversations flow from well‑sequenced questions—topical, simple, coherent, cohesive.
LLM Conversation Example 1
Q: What are empirical judgments?

A: Empirical judgments are based on observation, experience, or experimentation.
Q: What are moral judgments?

A: Moral judgments are based on ethical principles and values.
“AI is a language. Treat it like one: practice, iterate, and mind your grammar prompts, assumptions, and verification.”
Share: