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The Founder’s Evolution Stage 2: The Startup Entrepreneur

February 1, 2022 by Scott Ritzheimer

If you were to go out and ask any random startup entrepreneur how the new business is going, you would get a huge smile followed by a whole list of superlatives. “It’s wonderful.” “It’s amazing.” “I’m loving it.” Simultaneously you feel like all your life has prepared you for this moment, AND like you are way in over your head because you are. And despite the smile, you show everyone around you, inside, you are plagued by the question: What was I thinking? Did you make a mistake, or are you on your way to the success you’ve dreamt of?

I have a brilliant practice golf swing. You know, that obligatory fake shot you make before you step up and hit the ball. I’m great at that fake shot. It’s smooth. It’s powerful. It looks good. And I imagine the ball going right where it’s supposed to every time. 

It’s so good that I’ve concluded that it’s not my swing that is the problem. The real problem is when the ball gets in the way. That thing has a mind of its own.

Many brand new entrepreneurs and founders face this same feeling. They’ve thought and dreamt of starting their own organization over and over again in their mind. They’ve seen the freedom they can have. They’ve smiled as the thought of success rose to the surface of their mind.

And then they start. They make the leap. They step up to the ball. And instead of that beautiful straight line off the tee, the ball slices hard to the right. And now they’re in the woods.

The wonderful thing about it is most of us are fine with that. Much to our family and friends’ bewilderment, we’d rather be hacking away at a ball 40 yards into the woods and be in the game. That’s infinitely better than hitting perfect shots on the driving range, or even worse, watching someone else hitting perfect shots in their own game.

Is that a smile?

And so, if you were to go out and ask any random startup entrepreneur how the new business is going, you will get a huge smile followed by a whole list of superlatives. “It’s wonderful.” “It’s amazing.” “I’m loving it.”

They’re going, and the adrenaline is flowing. And in many ways, it’s a truly wonderful time. 

Simultaneously you feel like all your life has prepared you for this moment, AND like you are way in over your head.

Because you are.

And despite the smile you show everyone around you, inside, you are plagued by the question: What was I thinking?

What was I thinking?

My favorite definition for the word entrepreneur is someone who quits working 40 hours for someone else to go work 80 hours for themself (and get paid less to do it).

Even though our news media and podcast heroes all celebrate the seemingly mythical wonder-world of entrepreneurism, all the fluff has a way of disappearing when you are still up at 2 am trying to finish a project, prepare a shipment, or find out how you can hang on to enough cash to make it until your next sale.

The collective mythicizing of entrepreneurship is a profound disservice to those brave souls who were willing to put the safety of the sidelines behind them and get in the game.

Most of us walk in blindly and are in for a rude awakening. It’s for this reason that my advice for the question, “Should I start this business?” is always, “No.” If there is any other way to achieve the end you have in mind, take it.

Because entrepreneurism is hard, and starting something from nothing usually fails.

But don’t for a moment think that I am anti-entrepreneurism. I love entrepreneurs. I deeply respect founders. And I will bend over backward to help those already in the game obtain all the success they desire. And if you choose to leap, I’ll support you too.

I just want you to know what you’re getting into ahead of time because it’s not going to be easy. We call this stage for the organization Early Struggle, which is best described as waking up each morning, finding a sharp object, and banging your head on it again and again.

The goal is to stay in the game long enough to figure it out and win!

Okay, I’ve admittedly been a Debbie Downer so far because that is a message most people won’t hear anywhere else. But now that you know what you’re getting into let’s take a look at how you can succeed in the second stage of your entrepreneurial journey.

The Star Player

And succeeding at stage 2 is all about becoming the star. It’s about becoming great at what you do. It’s about building a better widget. Closing better deals. Marketing to those missed by the masses. 

It’s about stealing victory from the jaws of defeat, and you do that by being the best yourself.

It’s hard work, but it’s a lot of fun. The better you get, the more the world opens up to you. There’s recognition. There’s compensation. And there’s proving to the whole world you have what it takes.

This is what makes a star a star. They do what they do better than anyone else. And that’s why they win. That is, quite frankly, why they make the big bucks. They are the best of the best, and the game heavily rewards the best. 

Much effort goes into finding players with the best builds, the best stats, the best training, and the best instinct for the game. Winning is physical. It’s tactile. It’s concrete. 

It’s all about what you can do.

It’s also not about a lot of other things. Even good things.

You don’t have to be a great leader to be a star. You don’t have to be a great manager to be a star. You don’t have to be a great strategist or predict every move your market will make. You don’t have to think “team first.” You don’t have to plan every move of every play. Star players aren’t encumbered by all of these other thoughts. And it is precisely that focus that makes them great at what they do. 

You don’t have to be a great leader to be a star. You don’t have to be a great manager. You don’t have to think “team first.” Star players aren’t encumbered by all of these other thoughts. That focus is what makes them great! Click To Tweet

The essential strategy for Phase 2

And that is the essential strategy for Phase 2 of your Founder’s Evolution. You need to focus on getting better at what you do. It’s not as much strategy as it is tactic. In fact, too much strategy at this stage can be counterproductive. Instead, embrace the relative simplicity amid the maddening busyness. When you do, it allows you to shorten your focus and excel at executing on the fundamentals repeatedly.

So hyper-focus on getting better at what you do. And if you’re wondering how, here are a few suggestions.

Get clear about what it is that you do

This seems obvious. So obvious that it is often overlooked. But you would do well to have clarity about what you do. Or better you what you actually should do. Often getting clear about what you do will help you realize there are some skills you are seriously lacking. Things like sales, marketing, time management, and prioritization all surround the “thing we do” and, if not dealt with, can quickly sabotage the effectiveness of “what we do.”

Develop you

There is a return on selfishness in these early days. Your work is so central to the success of your organization that it is right, even necessary, to focus on developing yourself. You need to produce more, in less time, with fewer distractions.

When looking for help, you want to find people who can specifically help you get better at doing what you do. 

You may have a few other employees around you at this point. If so, that’s a blessing. Enjoy it. But don’t feel too much pressure to develop everyone together. 

The ideal (read most effective) scenario is often where you make the plays, you are the star, and you bring people around you who can make you better.

Sure this can be an ego thing for some. But it’s just as much about ego if you won’t do it simply to prove you don’t have an ego.

The key to success in stage 2 is to orient your organization around you doing what you do best and everyone else filling in the gaps.

Finish things

You’ve got to get the proverbial ball across the line. That means you need to finish what you start. There is an endless opportunity to start and try and explore new things. Those who succeed the most in this stage do so by trying some things and finishing most things.

And this is actually one of the greatest gifts that stage 2 has to offer. You have the greatest capacity to quickly finish the tasks you start. Years and decades from now, you’ll look back on this time from your corner office suite and think fondly of how nice it was to simply do what needed to get done. You don’t have to ask anyone. You don’t have to get anyone’s buy-in. You don’t have to coordinate 40 people to get them all moving in the same direction.

It’s point and shoot. And while for most founders starting is a lot more fun than finishing, if you’ll let it, finishing can create its own satisfaction. And as hard as it is now, at some point in the future, you’ll look back on these days and quietly wish for them once again.

Transitioning Out of Stage 2

The transition out of stage 2 is a curious one. We long for it to happen. But when it does, we wish it hadn’t happened so soon. 

You see, stage 2 is one of the best stages to stay in for a very long time. It’s great to be a star. Once you get to the top of your game, you’ll want to stay there. It feels great. Unlike the world of sports, where a player’s primacy is limited by their physical capacity, the world of business (or nonprofits, etc.) offers much greater longevity to its stars.

Many founders spend the rest of their careers in stage 2 and love it. Of course, time spent as a Startup Entrepreneur is no panacea, but it can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.

And the next stage, though it brings progress in your journey, doesn’t feel quite as good as you make the transition to Stage 3: The Reluctant Manager.

So keep Stage 2 going for as long as you can. Keep things simple for as long as you can. But if your vision requires more than you can achieve alone or with a few others, it’s time to make the transition to Stage 3. And to do that, you need to hire or promote a #2. The title for this role doesn’t matter. But what must be true is that they also need to be a star player. Bringing in another high-capacity individual will create room for further focus on what you do and how you succeed personally. You will also create a whole new host of growing pains that will stretch your leadership as you take the next step on your Founder’s Evolution.

Prev 1 of 1 Next
  • The Entrepreneur Smile

    The Entrepreneur Smile

    I have a brilliant practice golf swing. You know, that obligatory fake shot you make before you actually step up and hit the ball. I'm great at that fake shot. It's smooth. It's powerful. It looks good. And I imagine the ball going right where it's supposed to every time.
    It's so good that I've come to the conclusion that it's not my swing that is the problem. The real problem is when the ball gets in the way. That thing has a mind of its own.
    Many brand new entrepreneurs and founders face this exact same feeling. They've thought and dreamt of starting their own organization over and over again in their mind. They've seen the freedom they can have. They've smiled as the thought of success rose to the surface of their mind.
    And then they start. They make the leap. They step up to the ball. And instead of that beautiful straight line off the tee, the ball starts out straight before slicing hard to the right. And now they're in the woods.
    The wonderful thing about it is most of us are fine with that. Much to our family and friends' bewilderment, we'd rather be hacking away at a ball 40 yards into the woods and be in the game. That's infinitely better than hitting perfect shots on the driving range, or even worse, watching someone else hitting perfect shots in their own game.
    And so, if you were to go out and ask any random startup entrepreneur how the new business is going. You are going to get a huge smile followed by a whole list of superlatives. "It's wonderful." "It's amazing." "I'm loving it."
    They're going, and the adrenaline is flowing. And in many ways, it's a truly wonderful time.
    Simultaneously you feel like all your life has prepared you for this moment, AND like you are way in over your head.
    Because you are.
    And despite that smile, you show everyone around you, inside, you are plagued by the question: What was I thinking?
    In the next video, I'll show you that every entrepreneur eventually finds themselves asking that same question, What was I thinking? and what you can do about it today!

    Read the Article: https://bit.ly/3HiOg4Z

    Take the Free Business Lifecycle Quiz https://bit.ly/3umHWTX
    Take the Free Leadership Styles Quiz https://bit.ly/3xG0ZdS

    #business #entrepreneur #focus #people #businessowner #businesstips #businessquotes #businessgrowth #businessgoals #coach

    Like what you see? You can find more great content from Scale Architects here!

    Website: https://www.scalearchitects.com
    Blog: https://www.scalearchitects.com/blog
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/achitectscale
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scalearchitects
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChLj9yjac5P7UMFxoWuG8Zw/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/architect_scale
    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/scale_architect
  • What Was I Thinking?

    What Was I Thinking?

    My favorite definition for the word entrepreneur is someone who quits working 40 hours for someone else to go work 80 hours for themself (and get paid less to do it).
    And even though we won't admit it publicly. Even though our news media and podcast heroes all celebrate the seemingly mythical wonder-world of entrepreneurism, all the fluff has a way of disappearing when you are still up at 2 am trying to finish a project, prepare a shipment, or find out how you can hang on to enough cash to make it until your next sale.
    The collective mythicizing of entrepreneurship is a profound disservice to those brave souls who were willing to put the safety of the sidelines behind them and get in the game.
    Most of us walk in blindly and are in for a rude awakening. It's for this reason that my advice for the question, "Should I start this business?" It is always, "No." If there is any other way for you to achieve the end you have in mind, take it.
    Because entrepreneurism is hard, starting something from nothing usually fails.
    But don't for a moment think that I am anti-entrepreneurism. I love entrepreneurs. I deeply respect founders. And I will bend over backward to help those who are already in the game to obtain all the success they desire. And if you choose to make the leap, I'll support you too.
    I just want you to know what you're getting into ahead of time because it's not going to be easy. We call this stage for the organization Early Struggle. And it can best be described as waking up each morning, finding a sharp object, and banging your head on it again and again.
    The goal is to stay in the game long enough to figure it out and win!
    Ok, so I've admittedly been a Debbie Downer so far because that is a message most people won't hear anywhere else. But now that you know what you're getting into, in the next video, we'll take a look at how you can succeed in the second stage of your entrepreneurial journey.

    Read the Article: https://bit.ly/3HiOg4Z

    Take the Free Business Lifecycle Quiz https://bit.ly/3umHWTX
    Take the Free Leadership Styles Quiz https://bit.ly/3xG0ZdS

    #business #entrepreneur #focus #people #businessowner #businesstips #businessquotes #businessgrowth #businessgoals #coach

    Like what you see? You can find more great content from Scale Architects here!

    Website: https://www.scalearchitects.com
    Blog: https://www.scalearchitects.com/blog
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/achitectscale
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scalearchitects
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChLj9yjac5P7UMFxoWuG8Zw/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/architect_scale
    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/scale_architect
  • Succeeding as a Startup Entrepreneur

    Succeeding as a Startup Entrepreneur

    And succeeding as a startup entrepreneur in stage 2 of your founder's evolution is all about becoming the star. It's about becoming great at what you do. It's about building a better widget. Closing better deals. Marketing to those missed by the masses.
    It's about stealing victory from the jaws of defeat, and you do that by being the best yourself.
    And that is hard work, but it's a lot of fun. The better you get, the more the world opens up to you. There's recognition. There's compensation. And there's proving to the whole world you have what it takes.
    This is what makes a star a star. They do what they do better than anyone else. And that's why they win. That is, quite frankly, why they make the big bucks. They are the best of the best, and the game heavily rewards the best.
    Much effort goes into finding players with the best builds, the best stats, the best training, and the best instinct for the game. Winning is physical. It's tactile. It's concrete.
    It's all about what you can do.
    It's also not about a lot of other things. Even good things.
    You don't have to be a great leader to be a star. You don't have to be a great manager to be a star. You don't have to be a great strategist or predict every move your market will make. You don't have to think "team first." You don't have to plan every move of every play. Star players aren't encumbered by all of these other thoughts. And it is precisely that focus that makes them great at what they do.

    Read the Article: https://bit.ly/3HiOg4Z

    Take the Free Business Lifecycle Quiz https://bit.ly/3umHWTX
    Take the Free Leadership Styles Quiz https://bit.ly/3xG0ZdS

    #business #entrepreneur #focus #people #businessowner #businesstips #businessquotes #businessgrowth #businessgoals #coach

    Like what you see? You can find more great content from Scale Architects here!

    Website: https://www.scalearchitects.com
    Blog: https://www.scalearchitects.com/blog
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/achitectscale
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scalearchitects
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChLj9yjac5P7UMFxoWuG8Zw/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/architect_scale
    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/scale_architect
  • The Essential Strategy for Every Startup Entrepreneur

    The Essential Strategy for Every Startup Entrepreneur

    What if the key to success as a startup entrepreneur was simple. What if I told you you don't need to understand any more business acronyms or clever strategies?
    Well, it's true! Success as a startup entrepreneur is simply about focussing on getting better at what you do. It's not as much strategy as it is tactic. In fact, too much strategy at this stage can be counterproductive. Embrace the relative simplicity in the midst of the maddening busyness. When you do, it allows you to shorten your focus and excel at executing the fundamentals over and over again.
    So hyper-focus on getting better at what you do. And if you're wondering how here are a few suggestions.
    First, Get clear about what it is that you do
    This seems obvious. So obvious that it is often overlooked. But you would do well to get clear about what it is that you actually do. Or better you what you actually should do. Often getting clear about what it is that you do will help you realize there are some skills in which you are seriously lacking. Things like sales, marketing, time management, and prioritization all surround the "thing we do," and if not dealt with, can easily sabotage the effectiveness of "what we do."
    Second Develop yourself
    There is a return on selfishness in these early days. Your work is so central to the success of your organization that it is right, even necessary, to focus on developing yourself. You need to produce more, in less time, with fewer distractions.
    When looking for help, you want to find people who can specifically help you get better at doing what you do.
    You may have a few other employees around you at this point. If so, that's a blessing. Enjoy it. But don't feel too much pressure to develop everyone together.
    The ideal (read most effective) scenario is often where you make the plays, you are the star, and you bring people around you who can make you better.
    Sure this can be an ego thing for some. But it's just as much about ego if you won't do it simply to prove you don't have an ego.
    The key to success in stage 2 is to orient your organization around you, doing what you do best and everyone else filling in the gaps.
    Finally, Finish things.
    You've got to get the proverbial ball across the line. That means you need to finish what you start. There is an endless opportunity to start and try and explore new things. Those who succeed the most in this stage do so by trying some things and finishing most things.
    And this is actually one of the greatest gifts that stage 2 has to offer. You have the greatest capacity to quickly finish the tasks you start. Years and decades from now, you'll look back on this time from your corner office suite and think fondly of how nice it was to simply do what needed to get done. You don't have to ask anyone. You don't have to get anyone's buy-in. You don't have to coordinate 40 people to get them all moving in the same direction.
    It's point and shoot. And while for most founders starting is a lot more fun than finishing, if you'll let it, finishing can create its own satisfaction. And as hard as it is now, at some point in the future, you'll look back on these days and quietly wish for them once again.
    And that's what we'll cover in the next video. What happens when you succeed at being a startup entrepreneur so thoroughly that you stop being one. I'll see you there.

    Read the Article: https://bit.ly/3HiOg4Z

    Take the Free Business Lifecycle Quiz https://bit.ly/3umHWTX
    Take the Free Leadership Styles Quiz https://bit.ly/3xG0ZdS

    #business #entrepreneur #focus #people #businessowner #businesstips #businessquotes #businessgrowth #businessgoals #coach

    Like what you see? You can find more great content from Scale Architects here!

    Website: https://www.scalearchitects.com
    Blog: https://www.scalearchitects.com/blog
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/achitectscale
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scalearchitects
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChLj9yjac5P7UMFxoWuG8Zw/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/architect_scale
    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/scale_architect
  • The Next Level of Leadership

    The Next Level of Leadership

    In this series, we've been unpacking each stage of the evolution that every single founder experiences. And the most crucial part of understanding your progression as a founder (or any leader for that matter) is understanding and identifying the transition points between each stage. The transition out of stage 2, the startup entrepreneur, is a curious one. We long for it to happen. But when it does, we wish it hadn't happened so soon.
    You see, stage 2 is one of the best stages to stay in for a very long time. It's great to be a star. Once you get to the top of your game, you'll want to stay there. It feels great. Unlike the world of sports, where a player's primacy is limited by their physical capacity, the world of business (or nonprofits, etc.) offers much greater longevity to its stars.
    Many founders spend the rest of their careers in stage 2 and love it. Time spent as a Startup Entrepreneur is no panacea, but it can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.
    And the next stage, though it brings progress in your journey, doesn't feel quite as good as you make the transition to Stage 3: The Reluctant Manager.
    So keep Stage 2 going for as long as you can. Keep things simple for as long as you can. But if your vision requires more than you can achieve alone or with a few others, it's time to make the transition to Stage 3. And two do that; you need to hire or promote a #2. The title for this role doesn't matter. But what must be true is that they need to be a star player too. By bringing in another high-capacity individual, you will create room for you to further focus on what you do and how you succeed personally. You will also create a whole new host of growing pains that will stretch your leadership as you take the next step in your Founder's Evolution.
    And while stage 3 has its challenges, it also has a number of awesome perks that make it all worth it, and then some. To find out what they are, stay tuned for the next video in our series as we journey through the Founder's Evolution.

    Read the Article: https://bit.ly/3HiOg4Z

    Take the Free Business Lifecycle Quiz https://bit.ly/3umHWTX
    Take the Free Leadership Styles Quiz https://bit.ly/3xG0ZdS

    #business #entrepreneur #focus #people #businessowner #businesstips #businessquotes #businessgrowth #businessgoals #coach

    Like what you see? You can find more great content from Scale Architects here!

    Website: https://www.scalearchitects.com
    Blog: https://www.scalearchitects.com/blog
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/achitectscale
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scalearchitects
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChLj9yjac5P7UMFxoWuG8Zw/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/architect_scale
    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/scale_architect
Prev 1 of 1 Next
Category: Focused Structure

About Scott Ritzheimer

Scott is passionate about helping businesses scale and achieve Predictable Success. Having helped start nearly 20,000 new businesses and nonprofits and with his business partner started and led their multimillion-dollar business through an exceptional and extended growth phase (over 10 years of double-digit growth) all before he turned 35.

Today, he’s on a mission to help train and equip coaches, consultants, and internal advisors so they can help architect incredible organizations and personally enjoy immensely rewarding careers!

Previous Post: « The Founder’s Evolution Stage 1: The Dissatisfied Employee
Next Post: The Founder’s Evolution Stage 3: The Reluctant Manager »

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