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I am somewhat fascinated with the world of startups, and the differentiating factors that often mean catastrophic failure or wild success really interest me. Over the course of my brief career, I have worked for a handful of private companies that many would consider to be startups; these are relatively young and resource-constrained businesses with limited attributable experience under their belts. While working for a startup can be a challenging experience because of these characteristics, it can also be a very rewarding endeavor for the right individual. Few other places is it possible to have a hand in the direction of the company; upper management is easy to find and talk with and keeping your finger on the pulse of the organization is far simpler than at larger organizations. It is also incredibly easy to prove your prowess and gain rapid upward mobility. On the other hand, these same startups often thrash endlessly, looking for direction and grabbing at opportunities that do not fit the mission or serve to build a stronger business, choosing to survive instead of choosing to thrive. Additionally, limited resources can make meeting the goals and retaining talent extremely difficult.

So, knowing that a lot of you reading this have either a) worked for a startup or b) own(ed) a startup yourselves, please share what you think are the most positive and the most negative factors of these ventures. What are you or your boss doing that really works and helps build comradery while keeping the team on track and fulfilling the mission? Conversely, what has served to disillusion and fragment the teams you work(ed) with, creating an unfocused and unproductive environment?

Filed under: Business