Startups and working in a startup is a broad topic in itself. More than 2 years ago, I joined PriceBaba. I was the 1st one to join actually. I had no fucking clue what startup is and how things are different here. I have gone through several ups and downs of a startup as a employee and a founder as well. Working for a startup gives you a great adrenaline rush, super excitement and tons of learning and XP. Be it in terms of a product engineering or business. I am sure no B-School will give that experience to an individual. I would love to layout few points from my experience from why to how, to work in a startup.
1. Start-up is beyond Resumes and Cover Letters
Hiring you is a big leap of faith for a startup founder. Also it is a huge step in your career path to work for a startup. So think twice before you join one. Take your decision to work for a startup wisely and ‘never look back’.
You should ask few questions to yourself before joining like,
“Am I ready for bumpy ride for coming years?”
Its a start-up and it will take time to make processes and get things in a structured format. Till processes are made and implemented be ready for a bumpy ride. It will be the culture of a start-up which will hold things together. Be a culture keeper.
“Am I passionate about the idea?”
Start-up is all about doing what you are passionate about. If don’t feel passionate about the idea equally compared to the founders; I will advice you not to join them.
“Do I have a faith in team?”
Do you know anyone in the team? Are you familiar with the product? Are you sure your skills and knowledge will be enhanced working with them and will also be useful to the team? Think about these questions too.
“Am I comfortable doing multiple roles?”
Working for a startup you will have to take ample amount of responsibility yourself and you will be wearing several HATS at a same time. You should be ready for doing whatever it requires to make a startup a successful company. Many time you need to get out of your comfort zone and deliver, are you READY?
Mostly you are hired personally by founders when it comes to startups. It is very important for you too connect to the founder to get hired. If things go well and if you get hired, you will be spending 30 hours a day with them so show them how passionate you are about your ideas and share your life experiences. Also keep in mind that everyone in a startup is learning, even your Boss or CEO or any colleague. Make sure they give you time to learn and you too do the same.
2. Authority and Responsibility
There are several opportunities in a life of a startup to take responsibility and deliver it. This responsibility has to grabed by you. No will ever come and tell you to take it. Or will tell you to execute it. Taking responsibility of whatever you are doing and whatever happens to a startup is virtue every entrepreneure must have. I admire Himanshu Chanda Founder and CEO of ProjectHeena.com for this. When I first saw his business card the title on it was stated CRO (Chief Responsible Officer). On asking about it he mentioned that whatever happens in ProjectHeena is his responsibility and so he is a CRO before any CXO position.
Also, I personally feel that a startup is called a startup if the team is about 25 people only. If there are more people in the team than this I would like to call it a SMB. So in such a small team you cant really distribute a responsibility of a business to an individual. So You should step up yourself and take actions. You start by raising your voice for good or bad. Feel as the intergal part of the startup. Dont be a liability to a company, try be an asset. Share your thoughts on business decisions taken. Get involved in product meetings proactively. Dont be a follower, be a doer and earn authority. Authority doesnt come by equity, or it is not distributed or gifted by anyone. It comes by taking responsibity and feeling for the cause/problem your startup stands for. Go beyond just equity ownership, take emotional ownership. Be a leader. Don’t expect to have a manager on top of you. Telling you what to do and how to do. If you need a boss then work for a big company, startup is not for you.
3. Be Honest & Transparent
Consider your coworkers your family. Discuss your problems with them. Discuss your growth. Be honest and tell co-founders what you feel about the decisions taken in the company. There might be times when there will be monetary pressures – be frank and discuss with co-founders, there will be some positive outcome from it for sure :)
There will be times when you will feel your growth is stagnant; but let me assure you that wont be true. 3 years of my startup experience tought me this that we find reasons which are defensible, when we are tired of doing the routine work or have something else in mind. This brings me to then next point “Please Do Not Give Up”
4. Do Not Give Up
Assume your startup is a car in a race. Competing against all odds and trying hard to win, prove business model and achieve success. You are one of the four wheels of that car (your startup). Now just imagine one very fine moment in this race to succeed, you tell driver (founder) that you are quitting; one of the wheel is punctured. What will happen? Focus will be shifted to replace you, make you stay or there will be a void for sometime atleast. Which I don’t think so any startup need. I agree there has to be a stop loss to everything but timing and the way you put it has to be right. It shouldn’t throw your car out of race. Just have a leap of faith in your founders. Stick to them in their downs, encourage them, coworkers, maintain culture of a startup and try not giving up.
5. Being Loyal
Loyalty is not what your subordinates is to you, it is what you are to them. This point is more for the founders/bosses than an employee. One should be loyal to his employees. Be transparent. Make them feel like part of the gang. Tell them how is business doing, good or bad? Where, at what stage your business is? How did we come up to some costing? What/How deals are closed recently or what deals? Trust your employees. I believe first 10 employees must be like a family. Sticking together in a bumpy startup rollercoaster. Party often. Go for outing / movies. Take pictures make a memorabilia. If you’re not having fun and laughing daily, you’re in the wrong place. And this is true for everything. Some wise man rightly said “Happy Team Make Great Products”
So lastly I would say be prepared for changes when you are in a startup. Its not at all what you expected while joining a startup would be. Its like a joining new college, new friends and new rules and everything around is new. You need to give your best and just need to focus on the vision of the company, believe in the end goal. It is a life changing experience embrace it and make a most out of it. While working for a startup learn the basics of things like dilution, vesting, compliance and vesting, will help you when you will start your own someday.
Talking about me, I have absolutely no regrets about joining PriceBaba two years ago. It’s completely changed my life and the way I approach different things. But startup life is not an easy life for everybody out there. It can be completely ridiculous, risky, and often not what you expected. So again I would like to mention “Think twice before joining a startup and once if you decide to join, never look back” :D