I wonder how many first time founders never proceed on to another venture again? Is there a reason the stats are only available for 1st and 2nd time success rates :-) I also wonder if there's a correlation between 2nd time success/ failure rates and the uptake of the Lean movement? Do the numbers indicate a natural ceiling to success (i.e wizard, you shall not pass 30%!) or does that reflect on poor learning from the founders?
I must admit I'm verging on the tired side in hearing about failure, the role it plays in startups and how we've come to glorify it as if that's what we're *really* aiming for when starting a business... it's not the failure that needs to be celebrated, it's the learning along the way. The one thing I am doing remarkably different in my third startup now is letting go of the expectations of and attachment to *outcome,* and focussing much heavier in excelling at the *process*. As a result, there is no more failure (as an outcome), nor a fear of it. Two reasons for this new approach is that I realised the following to be true: 1. If a successful startup is a succession of assumptions, tests and then learnings that were acknowledged, acted on, iterated on and tested again, then investing in the process is the only control you have in terms of success or failure. 2. Your product failing does not equate to you failing as a person. One of the merits of failing (and especially if you fail on somebody else's money and/or time) is that you have to be accountable and cop up a reason why you failed. You can't just silently slip out the back. Mine were ego, fear and a stubborn determination to not validate the idea with customers before building, raising and launching. In hindsight I suppose that was partly due to fear of being confronted by the reality that my baby was flawed, but I'll chalk that up to first time inexperience. All the other factors like conversion rates, budget etc are secondary. If you can't apply Lean Methodology to yourself the same as you would with a startup and learn about yourself and your own flaws on the first go, then I suspect nothing you do on the second go will be much different. -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. Vist http://siliconbeachaustralia.org for more Forum rules 1) No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. 2) No jobs postings. You can use http://siliconbeachaustralia.org/jobs To post to this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Silicon Beach Australia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
