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In my yoga classes teachers spend a lot of time on the core exercises. If you do any competitive sports, your coach works obsessively on your core. Strong core is needed for overall body strength and resilience. It makes sense, because, by definition, the core is at the center.
Same is true about startups. The core defines what you made of, and how you are going to grow. The core defines how your startup will withstand extreme pressure and competition -- and survive and win.
Related: 4 Things Startups Have to Get Right to Survive
Here is what shapes the core of a startup:
1. Vision
Strong body starts with the strong mind. Strong startup core starts with strong vision. Why do you exist? What is your purpose? Why do you get up every day? What is your true north? Having clarity around your vision is the foundation of having clarity around execution, hiring, fundraising and every other aspect of your company.
Vision is the very foundation of the company's core.
2. Values
The second thing that helps shape the core of your company is your values. It can be speed. It can be exceptional customer service. Some companies have work-life balance as a core value, although it tends to be difficult for early startups. Values help you shape the culture. They provide the blueprint for the kind of people you may or may not hire -- and for the kind of company you may or may not want to become.
Ultimately, the founding team's values become the company's culture.
Related: 5 Skills You Must Develop to Succeed in Business
3. Product and engineering
In the past, great companies were about great sales and marketing. In the future, more and more companies will become great because of their product and engineering. A great product is necessary to win in today's market. To build a great product you need to have engineering excellence and focus.
Companies that have strong product and engineering core tend to win.
4. Feedback loops
The company core is constantly influenced by relationship between employees inside the company, its customers and business partners. Every single interaction is a small feedback loop. The sum of all interactions over time becomes a force that helps shape and evolve the core of your company.
Truly great companies have a core that evolves to be stronger over time.
5. Resilience
Strong core is a resilient core. You get knocked down a lot -- when the product isn't working right, when the sale wouldn't close, when competition is breathing down your neck, when the funding doesn't come through. When you get knocked down, does your core help you get up? Is your core truly resilient?
Winning the startup game means not dying. Is your core strong enough to survive?
What is the core of your startup?
Related: 10 Entrepreneurship Realities You'd Better Learn Early
I've delved into various entrepreneurial landscapes and startup ecosystems, combining practical experience with an avid interest in understanding the intricate dynamics of building successful ventures. Core elements of a startup are crucial, much like the core in yoga or athletic training—they form the foundation, resilience, and strength of the entity. Let's break down the concepts:
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Vision: The startup's "why" or purpose parallels the strength of mind in a yoga practice. A clear vision isn't just a lofty statement; it's a guiding light dictating actions, strategies, hiring decisions, and investor relations. A vision is the nucleus around which every facet of the startup revolves.
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Values: These are akin to the principles of balance and focus in yoga. They define the startup's culture and guide decision-making. Whether it's speed, customer service, or work-life balance, these values shape the company's character and influence its trajectory.
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Product and Engineering: Just as in sports where performance matters, the product and engineering aspects are pivotal. They represent the skills and strategies that a startup employs to excel in the market. A great product is a cornerstone, and engineering excellence ensures its evolution and innovation.
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Feedback Loops: Like the feedback loops in physical training, interactions within a startup, with customers, and among business partners create a continuous learning process. These loops influence and refine the core of the startup over time, fostering its growth and adaptability.
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Resilience: Much like how physical resilience helps athletes endure challenges, a startup's core resilience determines its ability to weather storms—product failures, sales setbacks, market competition, and funding hurdles. It's about bouncing back stronger after being knocked down.
Understanding and nurturing these core aspects are pivotal for a startup's survival and success. It's not just about avoiding failure; it's about fostering a core that thrives and evolves in the face of adversity.
This breakdown illustrates how the core concepts in yoga or sports training parallel the fundamental elements that constitute a startup's strength, resilience, and ultimate success in the competitive business landscape.
