Whether you’re thinking about starting your own company, or you’re like me and are currently navigating the startup world, there’s one thing I’ve noticed that all successful entrepreneurs have in common, and it’s grit. Being able to push forward and persevere when there are hold ups, hiccups, insistent doubters, or even healthy distractions in your life, is something I’ve found separates those who get ahead from those who don’t. Many startups fail early on because the founders hit their first barrier and instead of being resilient and working hard to solve the problem, they become discouraged - resulting in a mindset that their issues can’t be fixed or overcome. I can almost guarantee to you that no fruitful startup has gone from ideation to the market place without having multiple roadblocks along the way. Roadblocks are a sign that you’re trying, so be persistent, and think of them as stepping stones to reaching the final destination – a successful product launch. While startups are sadly not as easy as Shark Tank makes them look, I have found three ways to stay gritty and relentless while on the startup pursuit:
1. Don’t quit when you hear “no.”
You will without a doubt hear “no” more than you will hear “yes.” Whether someone says no they’re not interested in your product or no to funding your idea, you have to get in the mindset that it’s ok to hear “no,” because your product is not for everyone. In fact, there will rarely be a product meant for everyone. My rule of thumb is to refrain from letting those “no’s” stop me from working unless they’re coming from my target audience. For example, if you’re making a new line of princess dolls, it shouldn’t knock the wind out of you to hear that 50-year-old men aren’t interested in buying your product. It should concern you though if little kids don’t want your product. It’s vital to make sure you are constantly interacting with your target consumers, as their feedback matters a lot more than someone who knows little about the market you’re addressing. Know which “no’s” matter and which ones don’t.
2. Don’t quit when you have doubters.
Doubters are everywhere, and they’re not always just investors. Sometimes they’re your friends, your family, competitors, even YOU can end up being your biggest doubter. It’s normal to have doubts, and you do need to be realistic, but never back down from your dreams and goals because of what someone else has to say about them. Something my parents had always put into my head as a child was that “the people who tell you that you can’t do something are often the people who couldn’t do it themselves”. Let the doubters fuel your fire to prove them wrong!
3. Don’t quit because it’s overwhelming.
We all know the saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. Well, the same applies to your startup! Building and launching a successful startup takes time, especially if you want to do it correctly. It can be extremely overwhelming as a founder to go from knowing nothing about startups, to being in charge of product design, finances, contracting, legal forms, manufacturing, distribution, and so on. What’s often even more overwhelming is having other people (who aren’t familiar with startups) question your ability to run a company and give their two cents about how they think you’re doing. Over time, I have come to learn that the people who have never been in your shoes will always have more to say than those who have been where you are. When all the responsibilities start to become too overwhelming, talk to someone who has started and lead a successful startup. Chances are you’re doing great and just need to keep grinding through the hurdles.
Ultimately, it’s important to always look at the long-term goals you have set for your start up. If you want to see those goals come to pass, you need to be persistent even when things look chaotic. Be gritty, block out the doubtful opinions of others, and put in the work to overcome roadblocks. There are many successful entrepreneurs out there making it big, why can’t you be one of them?
Ready to hit the ground running on your big idea? Let the Big Idea Center help you! Our five entrepreneurs in residence are happy to use their industry expertise to help guide you at every step of your entrepreneurial journey! Set up an appointment with one of our EIRs today here.