THINKING BACKWARDS TO MOVE FORWARD

As is true in life it is so in business – there is no such thing as ‘going back to square one’. I am not sure how or why, but without a doubt we remember our stumbles with much more intensity and internal drama than our well thought out or serendipitous business successes. They stick with us and haunt us – but perhaps for good reason. They are the inevitable learning tools that we not only use to hone skills but also remind us of the unpredictability of both product development and consumers’ appetite for adoption.  Business MBA earned … by trial!

When you’re in this place you aren’t starting over, but rather moving forward with more knowledge, power and strength of character as well as committed determination. After you pick your chin up off the floor and ambition is restored, the true action really takes place. We are a funny society, recognizing ‘hits out of the park’ like it is as easy as the prize in a box of Cracker Jacks. Not sure where that came from, but almost overnight, historic successes arrived following endless hours of R&D, strategic analysis and execution processes … Many projects and ideas ending on the floor during the journey to get there. Eureka! A hit! I use that word a lot. But success isn’t that seamless.

The reality is that it rarely flows like that. As an entrepreneur you develop the mental image of a concept until you are passionate about its potential. Passion drives the process to deliver until either you hit a wall or stumble. I have learned that ‘the stumble’ is the most important stage in development as it demands that you question, defend and perfect the outcome. This is when brevity of concept success supports and encourages us beyond the dull necessity and evil of the funding process. Without such acquired confidence of concept and the ability to look and address the challenges, potential failures, and corrections, it is improbable that we would see the ultimate realization of our concepts. And let’s be frank – great ideas are great – but they require funding and support to be realized. AH-Finding Funding: perhaps one of the most difficult hurdles for both start-ups as well as funding requirements needed for growth in a scaling business.

( NOTE: Having both lived and identified with this challenge, as one of five Directors, we have formed and recently launched a local Angel Chapter for Windsor-Essex www.weangelnetwork.com which has been recently funded by FEDDEV. Please visit the web site for an overview and Executive Director Colin McKillop contact information.)

Does this seem like a kaleidoscope of activity: the swirling, repetitive actions required to succeed?  Yes, it certainly can. However, it reminds us that each and every experience, whether it is our first or tenth, is very valuable in respect to the final equation of concept survival and success.

Enjoy the ride!