Start-ups and founders are interesting to watch. Everyone I have met knows the s/e is fight against the odds. S/he understands that there are more reasons their idea will not succeed than there are reasons s/he will make it. The awareness of how risky the venture is does little to dampen their excitement in making an idea successful. At best, the awareness informs the founders and shapes their focus and attention. One thing that founders know in advance is that the process will bring surprises, not anticipated and challenging.
In the chaos and uncertainty of launching a company the one consistent pattern among the founders with potential is their ability to weather the challenges and setbacks. Old words play out in their lives; “In hard times, they’ll hold their heads high; when the shelves are bare, they’ll be full.” (Psalm 37.19) I have seen them reshape their ideas again and again, working to land something that works. As much as each thinks s/he knows what customers are looking for, reality is always different.
The line between optimism and arrogance is a thin one. The consistent take-away I have from working with them is the sense that one can always reach for more. The decision to stop because one has exhausted all viable alternatives in moving forward is independent of the decision to act with positive intent. One can always do the latter, even when the outcome is less than ideal.
It is not always easy to walk the line. Life is painful, at times overwhelmingly so. Life is uncertain, pushing us into spell of darkness. Life is also messy, chaotic, and difficult. Admitting that one does have the answers should be easy, but it rarely is. Accepting help is a good idea, but it does not come naturally.
As I wake to a new day I think of the founders on the move. To each, I would say thank-you. Your actions and endurance are examples of a fighting spirit. This is not exclusive; we are all invited to fight to make the world a better place.
