Belmont University

Starting-up is not the Goal

If the dot.com era taught us anything it should have been the difference between a financing scheme and starting a real business. A real business has legs. A real business lasts, endures, grows, adapts and prospers.

Sadly, I still see countless examples of people confusing simply raising a bunch of money and launching a business that creates real economic development.

Andy Tabar sent along this link to a posting from the blog written by the company 37signals.

Suggesting startups -- specifically tech startups -- don't need to look for revenue opportunities now is akin to spoiling a child and shielding them from the outside world: They're far less prepared when they eventually have to leave the house for the first time.

A poorly run startup is a poorly run business. A wonderfully run startup is a wonderfully run business. I don't believe there are many great startups that are bad businesses. Maybe less than 1%. If the business is bad the startup is bad. A great idea, maybe, but a great business, no.

So if you start something up, start a business, don't start a startup.


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Comments

That's an excellent quote. So many people think that a dream and a pile of money two swim in is all it takes to have a successful small business, especially online. Those people are usually disappointed.

If there's one piece of advice I consistently give to startups, it's plan for the long term.

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