A.C. emailed me a note today about his undercover research. He had been dissed by a very able VC who cited a startup similar to his idea that had gone under recently due to technical deficits with its on-line service software. He decided to not give up. He investigated and found encouraging things. He got the company's code, found its flaws, figured out a workable solution and the name of the venture firm that funded it. All within a short time after finishing his final exams for the quarter.
That is a sign of unshakable leadership. I have written about it before as a sign of a real CEO. Look for it in the people you want to finance or work for.
It is not stubborn determination. Rather, it is practical commitment to finding a path through the inevitable jungle that every startup faces. There are alligators in the swamp, snakes in the grass and slimy things in the water. All in the people you'll have to encounter along the way to building a great company. How you deal with them, realistically, practically, as you go will be the mark of your unshakableness. If that is not in you, consider following rather than leading.
BOTTOM LINE: What drives you crazy, gets you angry, depressed? Know that before you embark on your new venture. Ask friends and family, mentors and advisors. It is what to know to see how unshakable you are.
Comments