Startup experience and corporate experience are not the same

The Entrepreneurial Pursuit

This newfound passion for making money led me down a path of focusing on software development, learning more about business, and experimenting with various ventures. I dabbled in five startups, each with its own set of challenges and lessons. 

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Startup Illusions

Then, about 7 years ago, I opened a new chapter in my entrepreneurial journey with the opening of Tech387.  I remember believing that everyone worked at the same breakneck pace that I did. I assumed that individuals with years of experience were the perfect fit for my startup, and for other startups in general.

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The Startup Reality

It wasn't until we started hiring seasoned professionals with decades of experience that I began to see a subtle but meaningful difference in our approach to work. The crux of the matter was that in a startup, you have to wear many hats, from coding to designing to handling customer support, etc. It's a challenging path to walk, and I had lived with the belief that this was the natural way of working.  

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A Shift in Perspective

As we brought in more experienced team members, however, I realized that they were not used to working this way.  A well-structured company with defined processes offers a less stressful environment. In such an organization, individuals can focus solely on the work they were hired for. It was a lightbulb moment for me.

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The Startup Journey

A startup, I discovered, is a journey in itself. To succeed, you need to find the right people who align with your culture, who embrace a fast-paced environment that requires wearing many hats. Only then can you grow and evolve the culture into an organization where work-life balance is valued and individuals can focus on their core responsibilities.

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Adaptability Over Experience

With this realization, I started hiring a different profile of people—those who were adaptable and open to change. I understood that our startup would evolve over time, and our culture would experience variations. Therefore, I needed a team that could grow and adapt along with us.

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Moral of the Story: Consider All Factors

In hindsight, I learned that the grass is not always greener on the other side. It's essential to take all factors into account before making decisions. Creating an environment where failure is embraced and viewed as an opportunity to learn is crucial. The more you fail, the more you learn.

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The Value of Adaptability

In the startup environment, building a team that can adapt is more valuable than having a team resistant to change but loaded with experience. Experience can be gained over time, but adaptability is a quality that can transform a startup's trajectory.

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In conclusion, my journey from a young entrepreneur selling tutorials to founding and leading Tech387 has been a rollercoaster ride, but the lessons I have learned have been invaluable. It's a reminder that in the ever-changing landscape of startups, adaptability, a willingness to learn, and a team aligned with your vision can make all the difference.

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