Finding Energy for Startup Founders
Choices founders can make to optimize energy level
Reflecting on my past few years as a startup founder, I realized how much of it was a game of maintaining energy.
Most startups don't die because they run out of money. They die because the founders run out of energy. I was in this out-of-energy camp. After working on my startup for nearly 4 years, pivoting multiple times, and never finding product-market fit (PMF), I reached a point of burnout during my last pivot and eventually decided to shut down the company.
There's a classic saying in Y Combinator: "Growth fixes everything." It's true. When the company is growing, it's fun and exciting. Your energy level rises. On the flip side, when the company is stagnant, your energy drains.
Of course, every founder wants to see growth. But growth is not always under our control (less true for more skilled founders).
However, certain choices within the founders' control can increase their energy level. These choices may not directly translate to finding PMF or building a unicorn, but I believe they can help founders sustain motivation and therefore take more shots at goal. I wrote the following points with mostly pre-PMF startups in mind.
Work with compatible co-founder(s)
Working with good co-founder(s) brings energy. You get to celebrate the wins together and support each other through the lows.
On the other hand, working with incompatible co-founders can be draining. Misalignment, fights, and breakups can all suck the energy out of the startup.
The upside of having a co-founder is very high, but the downside is also very low. That's why it's generally better to be a solo founder than have incompatible co-founders.
Work on problems that intrinsically interest you
Some of the most challenging moments during a startup journey occur when things are not going as expected, not when things are going well.
Your intrinsic interest in a problem or idea could be the dose of energy you need to knock down a few more walls during such moments.
Build for customers you care about
This is similar to the point above. As founders, you'll spend a lot of time with your customers. Build for customers that give you energy and whom you enjoy spending time with.
Choose customer segments with shorter sales/feedback cycles (initially)
Customer feedback is the lifeblood of startups. As long as you're receiving feedback, you're learning.
Unless you have high confidence in what you're doing, going enterprise from day one can be demoralizing given the long sales cycle.
Optimize your energy level by choosing customers that can move fast. Once you've built a solid foundation, then go after the bigger, slower-moving customers.
Surround yourself with other founders
Being around other founders who share your goals and struggles can positively impact your energy level.
Work in an office space with other founders. Join founder communities. Move to a startup hub (I’m biased towards San Francisco).
Take care of yourself outside of work
This one is obvious but sometimes ignored. If you don’t take care of yourself outside of work, it’s hard to bring your best self to work.
Eat well. Exercise regularly. Spend time with family and friends.
Startup building is a long and arduous journey. Do the things that give you energy, and engineer your environment for success.
P.S. I’m trying to get better at writing online. If you have any feedback, please let me know. I’d really appreciate it 🙏
Great read! Thanks Kevin
I'm an idiot. I removed Manish's thoughtful comment by accident. Here is again:
"So much hard earned lessons shared here, Kevin. I've always believed that given enough time, talented people are guaranteed to make something out of nothing. So much of it is faith---almost religion/cult like belief---in persisting through.
With Drivingforce, how'd you navigate (6)? I went through a bad spell of not exercising late last year prompted by an injury and trying to save my previous startup. I find it hard to pull myself away when I'm in the thick of things."