This is the time of year when I have a few “Woe is Me” conversations with founders:
- “It’s so hard”
- “It’s not our fault”
- “Well, we’ll try”
- “No one wants our product”
There’s always some truth in this, especially how hard it is. Every founder that is successful knows how hard it is. Heck, the CEO of $1 Trillion+ Nvidia recently said he wouldn’t be a founder if he had it to do all over again! Yes, it’s hard.
Nvidia founder: I wouldn’t do it again. pic.twitter.com/YIx8zfX50L
— Jane Adams (@iLoveJaneAdams) October 19, 2023
It’s just, the ones that feel sorry for themselves — those ones never make it.
Not in my experience at least.
If that’s you, first, sort of keep it to yourself. At least for the most part.
Being vulnerable has its place, but not if it demotivates the team. I’ve been there myself, and felt it was almost hopeless — with both my startups. I shared those feelings with my cofounders, and a very old friend. But that was about it.
Second, pick yourself up off the ground and — Stop. Stop Feeling Sorry For Yourself.
It’s OK for a week or two, but it doesn’t help after that. Even if you have to act a bit — and CEOs always have to act a bit — act more confident. Show everyone the way. If you do, you might just be surprised that not only do they follow. But they find a way to make it happen.
And third, stretch your cash. Find a way.
You can’t make radical changes in just a few months. You always need 14-18 months to fully execute a plan in SaaS. Find a way. I had to go a year without salary after we were venture funded to make this happen. It was hard.
It was worth it.
Hustle. pic.twitter.com/s3d54K3AJx
— martin_casado (@martin_casado) December 13, 2023
