I Am – A Startup Founder
I still can’t believe that is true, but it is!
Startup founder is a title for other people…
Is the first thought I had. But then I was reminded that, no, in fact, I AM a startup founder. Yes, yes I am. I am not thinking about doing it, I AM doing it. I’m hiring developers, defining a product, working through business plans and marketing ideas. I’m working on this thing.
But, when I think of start-up founders…
I still think of a lot of other people. Like, Naveen (Foursquare), Loic Le Meur (Seesmic), Jason Fried (37signals), Hiten Shah (Kissmetrics). You get the idea. I think of those who now have some traction, some publicity, and are months & years into their thing. So, OF COURSE I don’t think I’m a founder like them. I’m at the beginning, beginning. I’m at the place that these guys were at a long time ago (in startup years!). I am a startup, I’m just not in the same place, I’m at that place that most people never see publicly. What a great thing to realize!
So now, I say to people, I’m a startup founder…
And I leave it at that. I don’t add on the consulting gig I may have to help bring in some revenue, I don’t mention what I used to do, I don’t mask it. When people ask what I do, I tell them… “I’m starting a company, I’m a startup founder.”
I admit, it still feels weird, but, every single day, it feels more real. I’m getting more comfortable in this skin. Maybe time is helping, maybe the writing of checks in helping, or maybe… just maybe… I see that I am doing the work to make something happen and am starting a company. For real. It’s not just a dream anymore, it is reality. I am doing this… now.
So I leave you with this…
What is it that you aren’t claiming because you think you haven’t done what others in your space have done, yet? Well, I say… as others have said to me… you ARE doing it NOW. Claim it. Remember that those you’re most likely comparing yourself to, were at this stage once too… you just hadn’t heard about them yet.
Yes, I am a Startup Founder, and that feels good.
Congratulations! That’’s a fond memory for me, and I can promise you nothing will match the slightly drunk feeling of these early days. Best wishes for every success.
Thanks, Bruce! I”m definitely burning this amazing feeling into my memory… will be good to draw upon it in the future, I”m sure!
Congrats, but you”ve been a start-up founder for a while. It has just taken you this long to embrace that fact.
It’’s been wonderful to watch you take off!
Thanks, Kyle! It is quite the experience… luckily I have great people, like you, helping me!
Yes LoJo, you ARE a startup founder. Feels good, doesn”t it?
It feels AWESOME! Thanks for the comment, Pam!!
It’’s amazing how changing your terminology from “want to be” to “am” can change your whole outlook. Congratulations.
Hello my name is Will…and I support this startup founder.
So thrilled for you!
Just stumbled across your blog and I think it’’s great! I also left my corporate job at the beginning of this year to be a startup founder and I actually wrote a similar post to this a couple of months ago. I STILL find it bizarre to say I”m a business owner… but I am and it’’s great. Looking forward to reading more
@Chris – The change in terminology made a huge difference!! Thanks for the congratulations!
@Willie – Thanks!
@Melissa – Thanks for your comment, and congrats on starting your own business!!
Hello, my name is Rachael, and I”m with Willie.
YAY, because YOU are AWESOME!
Thanks, Rachael!!