Some pointers to help you decide if a start-up is for you.

2. ☀
Today with the hype, glamour, and sex-appeal
surrounding start-ups there is a real danger
that all and sundry would take the plunge
without being fully aware of the rigours and
tensions of start-up life.
Here are some pointers to help you decide if a
start-up is for you. Or if you are better off
wherever you currently are.

3. PASSION

4. PASSION
is the key requirement.
You must feel the
burning need to be a
successful entrepreneur
deep in your bones and
believe in YOURSELF, the
TEAM and the
OPPORTUNITY.

5. You must be willing to be
consumed by the business
especially in the formative years.
Passion will help cope with the
excitement and glamour of a
startup as distinct from the reality.

6. Don’t do a start-up
for the glamour or
sex-appeal.

7. Resource
Constraints

8. Are you willing to give
up a cushy corporate
lifestyle and the
accompanying
trappings and
luxuries?
Are you willing to
manage with few
resources, handle the
immense pressures
on your time and yet
“give it all you have”
performances?
Are you willing to
have your quality of
life negatively
affected? Are you
physically and
mentally healthy?
Can you handle 12 to
14 hour days, 6 to 7
days a week for about
a year?

9. Self
Confidence

10. Do you have the selfconfidence to
realistically believe in
your capabilities and
harness the
opportunity in the
market?
Can you
communicate this
self-confidence to
your team mates?
Do you have the selfconfidence to convince
hard-nosed investors
that they’re looking at
the opportunity of a
lifetime?

11. SELF
CONFIDENCE
will help you cope
with rejection

12. Humility

13. Are you humble enough to
learn from others?

14. EVEN IF
THEY ARE
MUCH
YOUNGER?

15. Are you
willing to
listen to
others?

16. Are you willing to suspend your ego and
contribute to the
BUILDING OF THE COMPANY?

17. I’m the CEO
Or do you think,
“Taking out the
garbage is not my
job.”

18. Team Player

19. Are you individualistic
or are you a team
player?
Do you share or
hoard information?
Do you help others
on your team with
their jobs?
Is there trust
between team
members?
Is there a single
minded focus and
belief on the
objectives and goals
in the team or are
you there for your
personal agenda?
Can you delegate
with confidence?

20. Knowledge

21. Do you have the
required functional
and business
knowledge and
expertise?
Are you capable of
continuous learning?
Are you aware of the
market, business and
technology dynamics
and trends?
Can you command
the respect of the
board, investors, and
others with your
knowledge and
awareness?

22. Time Sensitivity

23. Are you sensitive to
the most valuable
resource, namely
time?
Can you make quick
decisions with less
than perfect and
inadequate
information?
Are you willing to
change all 4 wheels
of a moving car?

24. Communication

25. Are you an effective
verbal and oral
communicator?
Can you
communicate with
your team?
Can you motivate and
charge them?
Can you
communicate with
the board and
investors
effectively?

26. Remember there are many ways to reach financial independence.
However, only the last one is truly satisfying and in your control:
You can marry it | You can inherit it | You can steal it
You can be one of the lucky few and earn it in your corporate life
YOU CAN EARN IT IN YOUR
START-UP

27. This presentation is based on an
article originally written by Sanjay
Anandaram
Is a Start-up
for
Visit Entrepreneur Academy for
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Designed by Shyamanta Baruah for Entrepreneur Academy

28. Thank You