the startups.com platform about startups.comCheck out the new Startups.com - A Comprehensive Startup University
Education
Planning
Mentors
Funding
Customers
Assistants
Clarity
Categories
Business
Sales & Marketing
Funding
Product & Design
Technology
Skills & Management
Industries
Other
Business
Career Advice
Branding
Financial Consulting
Customer Engagement
Strategy
Sectors
Getting Started
Human Resources
Business Development
Legal
Other
Sales & Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Search Engine Optimization
Public Relations
Branding
Publishing
Inbound Marketing
Email Marketing
Copywriting
Growth Strategy
Search Engine Marketing
Sales & Lead Generation
Advertising
Other
Funding
Crowdfunding
Kickstarter
Venture Capital
Finance
Bootstrapping
Nonprofit
Other
Product & Design
Identity
User Experience
Lean Startup
Product Management
Metrics & Analytics
Other
Technology
WordPress
Software Development
Mobile
Ruby
CRM
Innovation
Cloud
Other
Skills & Management
Productivity
Entrepreneurship
Public Speaking
Leadership
Coaching
Other
Industries
SaaS
E-commerce
Education
Real Estate
Restaurant & Retail
Marketplaces
Nonprofit
Other
Dashboard
Browse Search
Answers
Calls
Inbox
Sign Up Log In

Loading...

Share Answer

Menu
Early-stage Startups: Is it mandatory for an early stage start-up founder ( CEO) to like the industry of his start-up in order to thrive and succeed?
KM
KM
Kerby Meyers, Strategic thinker and communicator, author answered:

Already a lot of good insight here, but I’d like to suggest that you take a quick assessment: The 2:00 am test.

Let’s say that you push ahead with your business idea and it’s 12 months from now. The startup honeymoon is over, but ideally you have some good feedback on your business, so it’s going OK one year in.

That said, it’s 2:00 am some frigid February morning and you have one more task you want to complete before you catch (hopefully) four hours of sleep. Yes, at some point, you’ll be able to outsource this bit of work—frankly, it’s the part of your role that you detest—but you don’t currently have the resources to hire it out. But it must get done before morning breaks.

What will propel you through that moment? For most successful entrepreneurs, it’s passion for what you’re aiming to achieve, the grit to fend off the fatigue and yes, some sort of caffeine-like stimulant.

If you honestly don’t think that passion will be there in 12 months, sorry, but you should consider some other path. The grit will be better applied somewhere else and the caffeine is more enjoyable when it’s not a crutch.

Good luck and let me know if you need more assistance.

Talk to Kerby Upvote • Share
•••
Share Report

Answer URL

Share Question

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Google+
  • Share by email
About
  • How it Works
  • Success Stories
Experts
  • Become an Expert
  • Find an Expert
Answers
  • Ask a Question
  • Recent Answers
Support
  • Help
  • Terms of Service
Follow

the startups.com platform

Startups Education
Startup Planning
Access Mentors
Secure Funding
Reach Customers
Virtual Assistants

Copyright © 2025 Startups.com. All rights reserved.