Here is the classic lean startup loop which most entrepreneurs use these days.
Like most entrepreneurs out there, I have used this loop to iterate on my products. Plus, following the recommended advice I have tried my best to make the process of iterating my product through this loop as data oriented as possible.
But no matter how much data oriented the process is, I have always felt that I am always contributing to each iteration in the form of ideas. I strongly believe, that the thing which makes two companies different that working on the same idea are its founders and the people behind it.
And even if I fail in the current product, I will eventually try to create a new one. Then also, I will have to put in my influence in form of ideas.
But as I have matured as a person and as an entrepreneur, I can see that my ideas are also maturing/getting better . I have become less impulsive, less ego driven and more in sync with the team.
In a sense the current version of ourselves and the future version of ourselves will create a different product, will have a different startup journey while working on the same idea.
So, now I am of the opinion that when we are working on a startup. We are actually working on two startups, one is the product and the second one is our own self.
The second one only improves when we try to make the first one a success.
But if the first one fails, the personal growth startup for all of us keeps going on. I will keep on iterating on mine. Next time I will be better, so what I create will be better.
In a sense the startup I am working on right now is the product of my personal growth startup. It were my life experiences that made me choose the path to solve a problem or relate so strongly with a problem that I wanted to solve it. So, both of the startups impact each other a great deal.
Now I have started to use the lean startup loop not only for my actual startup but also for my personal growth startup as well.
Here is how I have modified the lean startup loop for my own personal growth startup.
Ideas — I evaluate where I am lacking and get ideas about the kind of changes I can make in myself from external sources like books, conversation with people or blogs.
Implementation- Make a plan to implement the ideas of what I want to change. But I make sure the implementation plan is long enough for me to see meaningful results
Measure– I see what things work for me and then take things back to the drawing board
Here are some areas that I am iterating on with my personal growth startup to grow as a entrepreneur/founder:-
- Co -founder relationships – Now if I am in a co-founder conflict, I accept half of the responsibility. No excuses there. Here are some articles I studied to get better at co-founder relationships
- Taking our ego out of discussions- Sometimes I find myself and even others trying so hard to be right rather than trying to figure out what is right. Now if I ever do the same, I know it is time for an ego check.
- Caring about people around you – Our employees can actually feel how much we care about them. And that has a huge impact on the level of involvement/ connection they feel with our product which in turn will effect their productivity. I have realized the importance of being a leader and not a boss.
- Skills sets- I always try to improve my technical skill sets. Always a plus
- Spiritual direction in life – The kind of direction we have in our life will impact the direction of our product and the kind of people we attract. So, I meditate, read about tantra, play my didgeridoo so that I stay in sync with my spiritual north star ,and doing this has had a huge impact on the quality of my work.
- Better relationships- The relationships we form in every day life and in our work have a big impact a lot of our future success. So, I focus a lot on forming meaningful connections. Plus I try to stay as honest as possible and invest in them with all of my heart.
I think a destination is just the place where a journey ends. If the journey still goes on there is still a destination out there.
Now I know if I fail it doesn’t mean it is over, life goes on and I have to go along with it. The only choice I have is either I stop or continue to work on my personal growth startup.
Let me know guys what you think about the blog post in the comment, i would love to hear about my mindset. I am also iterating on it. Do recommend the post nonetheless.
P.S — I work on a startup to share/ discover board of less than 10 links that solve a problem or do something amazing https://knowledgemaps.org/. Why reinvent the wheel when someone has already figured it out. We feel you can rather add your suggestions to make it even more better. Follow me on twitter @pavtiwana
