Week 7 Ascend Your Start-Up

 In week 7 we finally reach the summit and look at the view toward our next peak.  The author challenges us with 5 decisions in this chapter with the first being decision #22:  How will you inspire cultural collaboration?  Cultural collaboration is described as building an inclusive and thriving culture where idea sharing is safe and learning and growth is encouraged.  The start-ups culture should sustain growth and be based on a set of shared beliefs.  There is emphasis on a positive employee experience which leads to a positive customer experience.  Strategy should be aligned to day to day execution and thoroughly outline roles and responsibility, set expectations, and hold people accountable.  This helps reward and identify top performers and week out the bad apples.  Leaders in the organization should hire for cultural fit.  The author stresses that a thoughtful hire is better than a quick hire.  I concur on this as I just left a job that focused on getting butts in the seats and not the best fit.  This hampered our divisions development for 5 years.  

Decision #23, How has your technology connected humanity?  This is a great question.  The author likens the fallout from the pandemic putting companies back into the era of customer relationships.  She states technology should support the goals of real people.  An example of this would be wearable technology that can monitor health and wellness and even assist during an emergency.

Decision #24, How will you armor up for adversity?  As a start-up, the word no will be heard quite frequently.  It is up to the leader to turn that no into a yes.  The journey to success will bring a range of emotions, setbacks, missed deadlines, and failures.  Continue to focus on why you are building the start up and circle back to decision #23 and how your technology is connecting to humanity.

Decision #25, How will you handle the loneliness factor?  Oh the loneliness factor I know all to well.  Spending my weekends dwelling on or dreading the next week at work thinking about how I will get thrown under the bus for something that I wasn't even involved in.  It can feel like living on a corporate island.  Remember, not everyone you start the journey with will finish it with you.  Work will always be there and it will never be finished.  Focus on self care such as reading, volunteering, and hobbies.  Do things that matter to you and your loved ones.

Decision #26, How will you take care of and preserve yourself?  I know this one all to well too.  Overworking can be draining.  When you are married to your job everything around you suffers such as marriages, health, friendships, and hobbies.  Most of all the work itself suffers.  Passion and fire that once existed is now gone and mistakes from burnout start creeping in.  Circle back to decision #25 and focus on some self care.