The Daily Startup Tasks of a Founder, CEO and President - and staying in the Executive Wing

LA JOLLA, Calif. - Nov. 5, 2015 - PRLog -- There are three hats to wear at the very beginning of a startup: Founder, CEO and President. The Founder is the one with the bright idea; the CEO is in charge of fundraising and taking care of major investors, shareholders, and corporate strategy (use a tight leash on this one); and the President is in charge of operating the business on a day-to-day basis and taking care of customers (his or her mission is to execute your ideas/plans, not turn them into his or her company).

Be warned – a startup demands an awful lot of work! Unless you are planning to grow exponentially and take over the world like Google or Facebook, all three positions are accomplished by one crazy fool, and I'm guessing it's you. The more "smart work" (not hours) you put into it, the better your odds that your brilliance will shine despite your reticent family, friends and neighbors.

I want to illustrate the importance of the Founder. In most instances, if the Founder gets an education (training, school, internship, employee), skills (marketing, financial, etc.), and experience (hard knocks, sacrifice, wisdom), your primordial mission is to keep the passion burning!

Keep the fire burning deep inside of you. Assign your significant other (if you don't have someone special, Mr. and Ms. Introvert, go get one and sell your best assets) the task of pulling you away from the computer, getting out the door, holding you accountable, and using the power of persuasion to convince you to do as much as you can all by yourself. Can you put together a team starting with your soul mate? Nurturing key relationships that are "built to last" is necessary for exponential growth.

Wait until you have liftoff – GROWTH – to hire, because that’s most likely the moment you’ll be able to afford it. Perhaps you need one or two technical consultants, but by then, you know how to tame the beasts that are your new hires. Never buy debt and avoid debt through credit cards; it’s just another expense. You’ll want to drastically cut your expenses. Dave Ramsey’s financial philosophy (http://www.daveramsey.com/) is a great way to develop part of your core money habits. Be extremely disciplined!

Become an elite business warrior. Sink intensity into your gut and enjoy the roller coaster ride. Merry-go-rounds are for people who settle for safe and secure "clockwork." Most will never take the opportunity to become filthy rich.

Be a relentless time machine during the startup stage. Avoid the extra time commitments and resource expenses about running a startup like: meeting with lawyers, accountants, conferences, sitting around the water-cooler and participating in kumbaya sessions. Use the time to build your brand, which will be your “Public Relations Startup Magnet.”

At the same time, meet with other entrepreneurs and get into their minds. Do meditation and yoga sessions with them. Filter them in or out. Find your investors, stakeholders, mentors, coaches, founders, roommates and co-workers. Get used to this lifestyle instead of going to the movies to watch Wall Street. Create your own empire. Time is your most precious commodity. Set your primary priorities to "Triple Startup Vantage Points”: product, people, and pay!

Over-communicate with your loved ones. Focus on a lifestyle that is balanced with priorities chiseled in stone. Be inclusive and share the journey with your family, friends and team. Pain and gain makes that toast of champagne awfully special. When you hear the expression "living in harmony," it is just a nice way of dreaming up excuses. Go back to basics with a daily routine – a ritual – to survive. Flow in that capacity. Focus on "Triple Startup Unique Propositions”: value, people and profit … and in that order.

As your startup grows, you will always be the Founder, but let's assume that you want to remain CEO and President. If you want to keep your company and not get tossed out by the Board of Directors (investors and other greedy SOB's), there are three key tasks which I call "Triple Startup Sales Lunges" you need to rely on a daily basis: sales, fundraising (never, EVER run out of cash) and constant recruitment of top talent.

Finally, remember that disruptive or sustainable innovation is driven by technology and growth.

Best of luck in all your endeavors!

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