The joys of startups! I've been at one for a year now. While I'm not the owner, nor can I tell you how to successfully start one, I certainly can let you know what will save you months of wasted time.
- If you are creating a business beyond your area of expertise take care to furiously background check those being hired as superiors or consultants. Just because someone was involved with numerous startups does not mean they were useful or capable. Perhaps they were worthless or maybe they can juggle knives while writing a business plan. You can find these things out by calling their previous employers. One call can save you months of pain.
- While interns can be a great source of free labor and youthful ideas you shouldn't start your entire workforce under the guise of “internships”. Our first work crew was entirely interns, ten to be exact. Those ten were whittled to 3 and then we were hired. Ten in a small space, fumbling around with one boss can lead to much confusion and way too many lunches to buy. Not to mention you shouldn't offer internships unless you can offer knowledge.
- Don't hire and immediately step away. It's in your best interest to get to know everyone who is with you from the ground up. You'll never know what people are fully capable or incapable of doing. The more space between you and your employees, the less you'll really know for sure what is going on. Convoluted information is not helpful in any business.
- Try to share as much information as you can. There were months where coworkers and I would be left alone while bosses and investors would disappear behind closed doors. We'd continue on like drones, not improving anything because we had no clue how. Expectations weren't clear. As time went by sheets were demanded from us asking what we did and for how long. Talk about mixed emotions. We weren't trusted yet had no clue how to gain trust.
- See how your employees are and ease in asking about their progress. Our owner still has a funky habit of demanding what we are doing for him. There are few decent answers to questions like that particularly when you are spending company money on something needed. It takes a wordsmith at times to keep from being backed into a corner, even if the boss is joking.
Written very simply:
- Research everything, including potential management hires.
- Don't abuse the power of interns or offer internships that won't afford learning.
- Don't assume your company will immediately function as you please on autopilot.
- Don't leave your employees in the dark.
- Allow room for your employees to grow on their own, without whips and chains.
Remember, common sense and venture capitalists are all you need.
