Break the Mold and Change the Game
You’re an entrepreneur with a startup. You know the rules; you know the tried-and-true practices. But what you may not know is how breaking those rules can give you the freedom you need to “make it” – and that success on your own terms is so much sweeter.
Taming Your Critics
The first obstacle you’ll face in your new venture is the naysayer. Naysayers are lions ready to pounce on you before your business even has a chance to get off the ground. People will rip you apart, tell you why it won’t work, and write you off. Scorn and skepticism come from people when they’re faced with something that challenges traditional beliefs; it’s human nature. So you counter their doubt with a little human nature of your own: stubbornness. Be stubborn about your idea by continuing to do what you feel comfortable with in your heart, and never change it. You can change your business strategy if you perceive a long-term trend in the marketplace (that’s being smart). You can change your tactics if you happen upon some short-term opportunities (that’s being opportunistic when it matters). But you shouldn’t change the way you think, feel, or what you truly believe because someone else doubts you. You’re a maverick who happens to see the world differently, and that’s part of your core. Never change your “core” – if you do, you’ll lose the essence of your character. When you eventually succeed by doing things your way, you’ll appreciate it more than if you’d sold out for success.
The Democratic Equalizer
In the initial stages of your venture, you’re looking for any form of support to get your business off the ground. This used to require much attention to detail when trying to dress the part of a business owner. Now, you can stay in your pajamas and still reel in an angel investor by 10 a.m. The Internet is the democratic equalizer, meaning your appearance (which is independent of your business model) won’t make or break your pitch to potential partners. A 17-year-old kid can create a successful business out of his basement; if he had to show up to a meeting, the big boys would laugh him out of the office. My business partner, Chris, convinced me to look into the online business world, and I haven’t looked back since. It’s unconventional and you’ll break some rules, but the market for online business is undeniable, and anyone with the right skills can utilize it.
When’s the “Right” Time to Start?
Although I support chasing your dream, I wouldn’t recommend quitting a good job tomorrow in hopes of creating the first time machine. If you have a job that keeps you afloat, don’t end it just yet. Use your steady income to help with your new venture. First, it will give you the capital you’ll need to create a startup. Second, there is a comfort level achieved by having a nice, steady income, and this will keep your mind focused on the important venture that lies ahead, rather than on the bills piling up. The Information Age is enormously beneficial to entrepreneurs because it doesn’t require a lot of capital, or time, to start a business. You can come home from your job and spend hours on the computer trying to build your enterprise. There’s no time conflict, and the money is still coming in. Once your business becomes profitable enough to keep you comfortable, then think about ditching the job that’s getting you by. Until then, stick with it and use your job as a stepping stone to something greater, rather than letting it use you.
Overcoming the Maxim
Zuckerberg, Jobs, Gates. Did those names do something for you? If an image popped into your head, it was probably Facebook, an iPhone, or a Microsoft icon. If there’s a word you can associate with those three names, it would be success. To be a business rule breaker and “make it,” you have to be willing to own your originality and unconventional methods, much like these men did. Each had a jagged edge starting out, and instead of trying to melt themselves into a mold, they stood firm and cut through it. In fact, they became so successful that they essentially restructured the typical businessperson mold. Take Mark Zuckerberg, for example. He started his company from a Harvard dorm room, using a friend’s algorithm written on the window. He built a new online business platform in his flip-flops. He was different, knew it, and embraced it.
These guys were unconventional mavericks, so the businesses they ended up creating with this “off-center” attitude were naturally edgy, unconventional, and excitingly disruptive in one way or another. Whether from a product or company culture point of view, they were uncommon. The result? They generated uncommon profits and created an uncommon business legacy. They knew the standard business rules, but passed them up on the way to something greater, something that would change the game.
Breaking business rules takes guts. It takes confidence that you will succeed and knowing that your way is the right way. I disregarded the naysayers, trusted my instincts, and my success has been that much sweeter. I advise you to create your own path, and plow through the critics’ sludge with steadfast resolve. Succeeding on your own terms is gratifying on a whole different level. People might not agree with your tactics, but if you prove successful, they’ll have to respect it. And once you “make it,” the world will celebrate not only your success; they’ll celebrate you.
Ken Oboh is the co-founder of Remix.com and Umix.com, two revolutionary music sites that give users the power to be their own DJs. Ken is a serial entrepreneur in the entertainment industry.
