Becoming an entrepreneur is possibly the most challenging and most fulfilling step you will take in your life. There is a lot written about the life of an entrepreneur. In reality though it is like a piece of cake.
That’s right, owning a startup is the rare opportunity where you can have (or bake) your cake and eat it too.
What kind of cake do you really want?
This first step is the hardest. Choosing what cake you want (or what kind of startup you are going to create) can be as obvious or as confusing as you want it to be. Should you go with what you know, what your passion is, what kind of cake others like – all these questions can take forever to answer. There is no right answer. What is important is that you know there is someone out there to eat your cake and that if no one wants to eat it at first glance, you can make them eat it anyways by showing them how tasty it actually is.
Do you have all the right ingredients?
Baking is different from cooking in that the ingredients cannot be easily substituted. They must be what the recipe calls for and in the correct quantities. Similarly, the ingredients in any startup must be just the right mix of talent, budgets, experience etc to create that perfect cake. But, all is not lost if the mix is not right – your cake will still rise if you can manage to find the right substitute and remember while the flaw may be visible to you, for your customers it may not even be noticeable.
How is the aroma?
The aroma of a cake baking in the oven is what entices the people who are going to eat it. While your startup is brewing in the background, the buzz it creates from the various ingredients you have put within the mix will be what brings you the customers. Take this opportunity to ask for feedback – there is always room for change when you create the icing on the cake.
It looks amazing but how does it taste?
Your cake looks stunning, the icing is pretty but when you bite into it, it tastes like cardboard. Make sure this doesn’t happen with your startup – your cake must live up to its icing because while the pretty bits add to the value of your startup, the core benefit you offer (yummy chocolate-y goodness) is why people are eating it in the first place. Seduce your customer on the taste of your cake and they will keep coming back.
Being an entrepreneur is great because you get to follow your passion, are your own boss etc etc. But what is really great is the satisfaction that comes with spending hours baking your cake and seeing it gobbled up in minutes.
The real pleasure is in having your cake and eating it too.