Founders Who Aim High Will Get High
Most founders I meet are not bold enough.
Even if they solve really crucial problems in healthcare, AI and climate they do not stop and think if they are aiming too low. If you ever spent time building a new startup as a founder or even working in one, you know how hectic the day to day of building a startup is.
You are focused on building a new product, speaking with customers and trying to make people pay for your services. But most founders don’t stop to think, am I aiming too low? Most of them will see this in the form of a rejection from Venture funds.
Why? because venture funds are looking for ‘home-runs’. They invest in 20 companies with the probability of 1–2 to bring massive returns. Sequoia Capital, benefited from its investment in Whatsapp where it brought back $3b from $22b acquisition by Meta and there are many other examples.
Founders should reflect every month and do ‘a Boldness-check’ and ask these 5 critical questions:
- Is the market I am aiming for is big enough?
- Are we going fast enough in terms of execution and pace of innovation?
- Am I doing everything I can to make sure we hit our targets and milestones?
- Am I clear about the targets and KPIs and is my team clear about it?
- Do I feel comfortable, and in my comfort zone? if you are — get out of your comfort zone?
Founders that do not know what they are aiming for, will not be able to aim high enough, and you must aim high if you want to get that hockey stick and scale fast.
