Start-Ups
Start-Ups
There is a reason that they use these words, Start and Up. It's the start of a new business, and they better only go up. Can you imagine if they were called "Start-Downs"?
Xbrand has been involved with over a dozen start-ups - some a new division in a company, others funded by VC's, and still others, spin-offs of a larger company.
It all comes down to two things:
Management - a leader who understands the market, knows the goal that has to be achieved, and leads through example.
Sacrifice - Employee's and management who are willing to sacrifice almost anything to make the company succeed - and no, it is not just time, but, money (i.e. rewards to the employee's), and recognition.
How many times have I seen a manager of a start-up come into the office, have a "cheer leading" meeting, and then leave to go on vacation - while the employee's work until midnight every night. You can argue, yes, that the CEO raised the money and has the "stress" of having VC's breathing over his shoulder. But, those CEO's, that do what has been described, rarely have a successful company. It is those CEO's that shoulder the VC burden (along with everything else) and be in the office as late as the last employee and there when the first employee arrives that will have a company where the employee's will sacrifice anything to bring success to that company.
It is amazing how many times upper management does not communicate to their employee's and expects them to "appreciate that they even have a job". Without the employee's, there would be no company.