The 4 startup founder traits that determine success or failure
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The 4 startup founder traits that determine success or failure

Founders are all rated along 4 key traits. These are profiles that every startup founder needs to master in order to make startups succeed

30/03/2022 02:24PM
5 min read
Founders are all rated along 4 key traits. These are profiles that every startup founder needs to master in order to make startups succeed



Risk profile

Risk capacity is defined as a founder's ability to fund the launch of their firm. This phase entails both the search for a compelling business opportunity and the formation of the company (the latter could include building the initial product and getting initial customers on board).

We ask budding entrepreneurs the following questions to measure their risk tolerance:

- Do you require remuneration?

- If that's the case, how much do you require?

- How long can you survive without one if you don't have one?

- The first step is to make a list of what you and your family require in terms of financial support. This is a subjective judgement that, if you have a partner, necessitates an open and honest discussion as well as a collaborative commitment. (Entrepreneur partners frequently pay the highest price.)

- To make this work, you'll have to make considerable financial sacrifices. You'll try to live as simply as possible and put any extra money into the business, which has a lot of room for growth.

- If you need to keep a $200K salary and don't have any readily available funds, you're probably not ready to start a business. Either you're on the wrong track or you need to improve your capabilities. Meanwhile, you can get involved with early-stage firms to have a sense of what to expect.

- You may determine how much "runway" you have to start a business once you've established your minimal living expenditures. We believe that 12–18 months will provide you with enough time to iterate through a number of venture ideas and gain traction without needing to rush the process.

- The process of discovery cannot be hastened. Taking the time to validate your solution can have a huge impact on the success of your product. Every time you learn something new, you improve.

- The questions above are simple, but they're merely meant to serve as a starting point. The moral of the storey is that you shouldn't go into business blindly. Don't wait until you've gone too far to figure out how far you can push yourself.

We've concentrated on financial risk capacity (which is the most common concern among entrepreneurs), but there are a few more factors to consider:

- Relationship Capacity (Do your loved ones realise the danger you're putting yourself in?)

- Mental Health Capacity (Can you handle the stress, worry, and prolonged focus that an entrepreneur requires?)

- Time Capacity (Are you willing to put in the effort required to make the venture a success?)



Specialized knowledge

I didn't know much about the education business when I started my first company, The Hacker Collective (THC). I could clearly see issues in the space and was passionate about solving some of them, but I lacked a genuine respect for the industry as a whole. This resulted in a slew of issues, all of which had a detrimental influence on the organisation.

Some of the problems I was able to solve, but my lack of subject knowledge, experience, and competence gnawed at my ankles like a mad ferret. As a result, I overcompensated in certain circumstances.

Hiring someone from the field in question is one technique to compensate for a lack of domain knowledge. It makes sense logically. There are, however, dangers. One of these dangers is giving the "hired expert" objective control and decision-making authority. If that individual is executing, fine; if not (and in certain circumstances, it's difficult to tell due to a lack of information), the startup may face major issues.

Another appealing option is to delegate sales duty to channel partners. That should be avoided at all costs. Channel partners may have a lot more subject knowledge and existing clients to upsell to, but they demand a lot of work and come with their own set of issues. Plus, without your own topic experience, judging partners, figuring out how to encourage them, and driving success through them becomes challenging.

Domain knowledge and assertiveness, according to Mark MacLeod, are two company founder characteristics that stand out. Is domain expertise indeed one of the top two characteristics that distinguish successful entrepreneurs and startups? Even in light of my own experience, I'm hesitant to overestimate the value of domain knowledge, but I do believe it offers a distinct advantage.

Because these tactics are driven by engaging customers, uncovering important challenges, and then implementing solutions, the Lean Startup Methodology and Customer Development may most likely counter (slightly) a lack of domain expertise. Their systematic approach to establishing startups, determining product/market fit, and scaling through data collection and analysis helps to eliminate errors that could be caused by a lack of industry knowledge. As a result, you may "learn the market." But even here, without actual subject knowledge, you could not be asking the appropriate questions or addressing things the right way while engaging with prospects (but simply be unaware).

There is no such thing as flawless information in the startup industry. CEOs are often forced to make judgments based on incomplete information. You won't be able to know everything. However, founders with domain knowledge (as opposed to those without) have a clear advantage in terms of the quantity and quality of data they have. This makes it easy for them to consistently make better selections. And, in most cases, this results in victory.



Execution

Over the years, I've grown to feel that the way a business's idea is carried out is what actually distinguishes successful businesses from unsuccessful ones. The success of most ideas and the individuals behind them is determined by their execution. While this is not to dismiss the need of creative and intelligent thought, it is to move the focus away from putting pressure on ourselves to have a "eureka moment" in order to kick-start our business at the proper time.

It's critical to recognise the distinction between "having the right concept" and "doing it right." Once an idea has been formed, it is critical to assess it objectively in order to determine whether it will work. To be transformed into a good business model, a concept, no matter how revolutionary or mundane, must be worked on. As a result, an idea and its execution are inextricably linked, much like cause and effect. It is impossible to achieve success just by relying on the invention of an idea. In truth, it is the execution of a brilliant idea that puts its feasibility to the test.

When I speak at conferences, young inspired entrepreneurs frequently express their desire to come up with a "original" idea in order to stand out in today's congested start-up scene. This is something I've heard many times throughout different exchanges across the country, and it's always made me think. I usually tell them the same thing: you can take an existing idea that has been tried before and turn it into an award-winning business if you approach and execute the idea in a fresh and distinctive way. You must employ both – idea and execution – if you truly want to succeed in your business. You can't put one ahead of the other and ignore the other.

An entrepreneur, in my opinion, is a passionate, pragmatic dreamer with excellent business acumen, not a creative genius. His or her skill set is put to the test not by the concept that sparks the business, but by how he or she brings the venture to life. When it comes to today's exciting and tough start-up sector, one's ideas, beliefs, objectives, and desires will undoubtedly be put to the test. An concept that seems perfect on paper could be blown away by the least wind of objection or logistical mismatch. While a fragile notion on paper may suddenly flourish and blossom in the face of all adversity. The entrepreneur's ability to turn a situation in his or her favour with agility and confidence will ultimately determine success. And how to deal with the complexities of the start-up environment without fail.

What genuinely distinguishes an entrepreneur is his or her ability to execute an idea at the correct time, using the proper resources, and shifting the odds in your favour. As a result, I am a firm believer that success is based on flawless execution rather than a breakthrough idea. It's not enough to have a fantastic concept to win a war; you must also understand the difference between developing a strategy and putting it into action in a competitive setting. Strategy may be simple, but execution is difficult but worthwhile.

"Ideas are worthless unless they're executed," as Steve Jobs once said. They're nothing more than a multiplier. Millions are at stake in the execution."



Charisma

Anyone can come up with a company idea that is unique. Entrepreneurs must also persuade others to believe in their vision in order to succeed.

Consider the most successful persons in your field. Successful entrepreneurs don't work alone; they assemble teams of people who put in long hours because they believe in what they're doing.

"As an entrepreneur and leader, one requires manpower," says one corporate coach. And these personnel look after your company when it comes to ensuring that your clients are satisfied with your products and services."

In other words, charismatic people have the ability to bring people together. But it's not only about putting together a fantastic team. Getting investors, creating a client base, and gaining public trust all require buy-in, which doesn't happen just because you have a compelling storey and a flashy PowerPoint deck.

Charisma, or the ability to mix confidence and warmth, is what attracts and keeps others interested in your amazing idea. Magnetism isn't only about being charming; it can also be about making genuine relationships with others, as my fascinating seatmate demonstrated on the early morning trip.

Building real relationships is the greatest way to create a business if you're looking for long-term growth and success. It may seem paradoxical to focus more on people than numbers, but it's the best way to establish a business if you're looking for long-term growth and success.