WHY SUCCESSFUL STARTUPS ARE LIKE ROWING

How getting up early and sitting backwards can prepare you for startups

Daniel Stevensondaniel@fast-traction.com

First, let’s get one thing straightNot all rowing is created equal

Big galley ships are like entrenched competitors. Adding more people (rowers) doesn’t make them any faster. And individual rowers don’t see any results from rowing harder.

But put the eight fastest rowers into a boat and look out. Now the average performance is closer to the top performer.

NOTE: See Paul Graham’s excellent essay – HOW TO MAKE WEALTH – for more on this topic.

Recruiting is like team tryoutsIn startups your first 5 or 10 employees are your most critical.You want to know everyone can pull their weight.

In rowing, you look for technical ability, strength and mental fitness. Culture matters. You are putting your team (startup) first. There is no room for a prima-donna in a boat (startup).

IN A STARTUP EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES

You can’t hide in the boat. There are no off-strokes in a

race.

AND TECHNIQUE MATTERS

In rowing it’s LEGS BACK ARMSDo it wrong (or too fast) and you STOP the boat

In startups it’s AUDIENCE CUSTOMERS PRODUCTUnderstand customer pains before you build

YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOINGIn rowing you can’t see where you are going, but you are guided by a visionary (coxswain) and you just work (pull) hard

PRACTICE AND PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFFRowers will put in hundreds of hours of practice and

conditioning for a single, seven minute race.There are rarely “quick hits” in the startup world.

MAKE EVERY STROKE COUNTRowers, like entrepreneurs, get up early to get a jump on the competition.

PULL TOGETHER AND EVERYONE WINS

Hard work, focus and good team dynamics will get you over the finish line first.And remember, if you don’t have the passion for startups, you are not going to win.

Daniel Stevensondaniel@fast-traction.com