There’s an essential, intangible something in why startup an energy, a soul. Company founders sense its presence. So do early employees and customers. It inspires people to contribute their talent, money, and enthusiasm and fosters a sense of deep connection and mutual purpose. As long as this spirit persists, engagement is high and why startups remain agile and innovative, spurring growth. But when it vanishes, ventures can falter, and everyone perceives the loss something special is gone. Most founders, by contrast, believed that their startups were about something more than their missions, business models, and talent, even if those founders couldn’t articulate it precisely.
Working at a why startup probably means you’re part of a small team, most likely in the single digits. Because of the nature of having such a small team, there is probably nobody else in the company who has the same skillset as you, approaches problems in the same way you do, or even thinks the same way you do. People who start their own business have a different mental and professional makeup than those who have never gone off to create something of their own. Entrepreneurs are defined by seeing a problem and thinking of an innovative and original way of addressing it. Because of this innovative nature, entrepreneurs are some of the best people to learn from. They approach problems differently, are constantly finding solutions, and are driven to make the most out of their time and work.
Working at why startup probably means that money is tight. Whether you’ve been showered with investor love or the founder has a really wealthy uncle, the company will still be thinking of ways to do more with less. No extravagance, no frills, no extraneous booze cruises (heartbreaking, I know). Instead, the business development intern will learn how to design and code the blog, the writer will sometimes do the dishes, and at the start you’ll find a way to fit nine people around an eight person table (hint: extra chair).
This frugality and monetary responsibility will undoubtedly bleed into your own life as well, and you’ll end up finding new ways to find fulfillment other than burning the money you earn. Instead, you’ll probably discover a joy in creating and doing, rather than consuming. You’ll find happiness in being part of a team that is trying to make other people’s lives easier, more fun, and more manageable. Your entire life will take on a meaning of creation, and you’ll be more energized, both physically and mentally, to take on new hobbies and start your own personal projects. In the startup world, it’s all about creating more and consuming less.
Maybe more important than any other benefit of working at a why startup is the realization that hard work, creative thinking, and tenacity are worth a whole lot. Once you’ve created something of your own, something tangible and whole, something you can touch, feel, or use, you really begin to appreciate personal ownership. For those who do not actively create, or are continuously creating for someone else’s benefit, it’s difficult to understand the great importance of personal ownership and the liberty needed to pursue that ownership. Working at a startup and spreading the news of your team’s product, a product that you helped bring into existence, instills the value of that ownership and gives you pride in your work. It is this pride, in your team’s hard-work and ability, that teaches you the importance of protecting those who do create innovative solutions and take risks. Why Startup is what every entrepreneur thinks before starting startup.
