3 Start-up Lessons From My Terrace-Garden
May
Last year I moved into an apartment with a small terrace. And finally, the beautiful world of gardening opened up to me. These days, I spend most mornings tending them and during those silent moments of communion with nature, I’ve come to realize that there are some interesting analogies to be drawn between how plants and successful startups function (my working hours are mostly spent with startups). Here are some that I’d like to share:
- Uniqueness:
A rose bush doesn’t aspire or compete to be a chrysanthemum. A chrysanthemum doesn’t want to be a fern. Each plant is in complete and total acceptance of who it is – a unique entity with a unique offering. There is no sense of competition, comparison or insecurity.
Startups often forget this. Some start to panic when others enter their space. They forget that their offering is unique not just because of its functionality or features, but because of the vision, people and energy behind it.
2. The basics:
Typically plants have three basic requirements to grow and remain healthy: good earth, water and sunlight. Startups need to figure out what they need in order to perform their best. These vary from founder to founder, but typically a good partner, a ‘change-the-world’ idea and the right place seem the most common requisites. But each startup should take time to figure its mix.
3. Limitations
Plants don’t over-promise and under-deliver. Startups often do. That’s because plants will grow only as much as their roots can spread underground. When there’s no more room, they stop growing (though not flowering). If someone sees potential, the plant is moved to a bigger space.
Startups suffer from having unrealistic expectations from themselves, spread themselves thin and end up with no flowers and no fragrance worth talking about. This ensures that gardeners (VCs/others) who might have seen potential will remain unconvinced. Ensuring that your main offering is solid and beautifully created increases your chances of expansion.
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