One thing we've struggled with, especially recently, has been how to keep the spirit of the "startup" going, even though our company has been around for over a decade now. When you first launch a company, motivation is easy. There's a palpable sense that you are creating something new, that you need to scramble for customers, move fast, get things done, scratch to stay alive. Like young love, it's an adrenaline high, a flutter in the stomach, a dramatic, emotional quest.
I love reading blogs by young startups like Balsamiq, where the energy is palpable and the thrill of accomplishment is so wonderfully transparent.
But inevitably, no matter how successful your company becomes, there comes a point when the atmosphere becomes more mundane, even routine. No one can sprint forever. No group can maintain a super-high passion for teamwork forever. Unfortunately, that is.
But ultimately, without that fire, your company risks falling into the realm of the also-ran, or worse yet, stops innovating, stops taking risks, and settles for being comfortable. This ebb of passion may be understandable over time, but it's a bitter pill to swallow for company founders, who typically retain the fire much longer than others in the company. Those who were there in the beginning remember what it takes to succeed, but those that weren't perceive the company differently.
So how do you rekindle the passion? How do you instill a sense of urgency, even if your company is already established? Whether you're a tiny company of 10 or a small country like Microsoft, without the edge to succeed, you are always at the mercy of the next true startup that can "bring it".
It starts with empowering your employees to succeed and creating incentives that breed passion. Treating them like partners, rather than clock-punchers. Creating smaller teams with tangible goals with real deadlines. Being more transparent about your company's successes and failures. Communicating more. Making sure you have the right people on the bus.
To succeed long-term, you need to cultivate this passion in every way possible.
I love reading blogs by young startups like Balsamiq, where the energy is palpable and the thrill of accomplishment is so wonderfully transparent.
But inevitably, no matter how successful your company becomes, there comes a point when the atmosphere becomes more mundane, even routine. No one can sprint forever. No group can maintain a super-high passion for teamwork forever. Unfortunately, that is.
But ultimately, without that fire, your company risks falling into the realm of the also-ran, or worse yet, stops innovating, stops taking risks, and settles for being comfortable. This ebb of passion may be understandable over time, but it's a bitter pill to swallow for company founders, who typically retain the fire much longer than others in the company. Those who were there in the beginning remember what it takes to succeed, but those that weren't perceive the company differently.
So how do you rekindle the passion? How do you instill a sense of urgency, even if your company is already established? Whether you're a tiny company of 10 or a small country like Microsoft, without the edge to succeed, you are always at the mercy of the next true startup that can "bring it".
It starts with empowering your employees to succeed and creating incentives that breed passion. Treating them like partners, rather than clock-punchers. Creating smaller teams with tangible goals with real deadlines. Being more transparent about your company's successes and failures. Communicating more. Making sure you have the right people on the bus.
To succeed long-term, you need to cultivate this passion in every way possible.
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