I often say that starting a company is like jumping off a cliff and building an airplane on the way down. It’s a vivid metaphor that contains a lot of truths. First, you’ll need courage and optimism. You have to believe you can pull it off. Next, you’ll need ingenuity. Assembling a plane takes talent and skill, even under calm circumstances. In the chaotic rush of a death- defying plunge, you need agility. You need to react quickly. You need to be calm under pressure. You need to find the plunge exhilarating.
And then there are the stakes. If you don’t assemble the plane in time, you crash. In real-world terms, you run out of money. This is why speed matters. Once you jump off the cliff, the ground comes at you fast. It’s why, in almost every case, a slow-moving startup is dead. That’s part of what makes entrepreneurship so grueling— because the default outcome, until you get the whole plane running, is death. Not just for you but also everyone you persuaded to jump with you.
So what does it take to succeed in these entrepreneurial leaps of faith? The answer is at once simple and infinitely complex: You need an entrepreneurial mindset.
And yes, it can be cultivated.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
The $2 Billion Long Haul
KeepTruckin brought much-needed innovation to the trucking industry and achieved a valuation in the billions. But to keep growing, the company must rethink a core part of itself.
When Teams Create Themselves
What happens when you allow employees to form their own teams and run their own projects? The answer: Innovation.
How the Heck Do You Sell Scent Online?
Otherland cofounder Abigail Cook Stone got a ton of noes while nosing her way around the challenge.
Make Your Time More Valuable
You don’t always need to hire to grow your business. But you do need to rethink what makes you competitive.
Can We Build With Garbage?
That’s the big, eco-friendly idea behind ByFusion, which turns plastic waste into construction material.
Racing the Giants
The sneaker industry is crowded and dominated by the likes of Nike and Adidas. So how did a little Swiss brand called ON become the fastest-growing athletic shoe company in the U.S.? By breaking every rule.
THE AUDACIOUS HUSTLE
What does it take to land the biggest clients? A'dentist to the stars' shares how she drilled her way in. (Warning: chutzpah required.)
WHERE THE BOOM IS REALLY BOOMING...
Why is business so great for home improvement, chicken, health-and-wellness, and pet brands? The answer tells you a lot about where franchising is going next.
WHO SUPPORTS YOU?
Not everyone understands the life of an entrepreneur, and that may include your friends and family. Here's how to build a network that cares.
YOU MIGHT BE A BETTER FIT THAN YOU THINK
Does a cat-focused franchise only want cat lovers? No! Sometimes, people have the wrong idea about what makes a great franchisee-as these three brands can attest to.
