Dear SaaStr: What’s The Strangest Thing You’ve Learned About Entrepreneurship?
To me the “strangest” thing I learned is that you get pretty darn good around Year 3–4. Almost automatically. And somewhere around Year 5 at least, if you make it that long — you know exactly what to do.
I always had imposter syndrome as a CEO and founder — and still do. I never thought I could be as good as any of the successful founders I knew. And I probably wasn’t that good in the beginning.
But what I’ve learned twice now is if you make it to Year 3 or 4 or so … you get pretty darn good.
Whatever domain gaps, management gaps, vision gaps you had … you figure it out by then at least. You can really see the future by $8m-$10m ARR.
So if you are worried you aren’t good enough to go the distance … well maybe you aren’t — today. But don’t throw in the towel. Time and committing 110% for years really does make a difference.
Wait and see how good you are on Day 1000 (measured after first revenues). If you still don’t think you are good enough then … well that’s one thing. But give yourself time to grow until then.
