Back to Business Basics: Do Not Begin with a Mindset of Dependence

#BackToBusinessBasics #BuildATrulySustainableBusiness #DoNotStartWithAMindsetOfDependence Robin: “Do not start a business assuming you can depend on others. You must confront real-world problems and build something sustainable from the outset to improve your chances of success. Fundraising and spending other people’s money may temporarily conceal many startup problems. But if you have not reached orbit before the rocket’s thrust ends, you cannot ignore gravity. You will ultimately crash.” --- Amid today’s enthusiasm for innovation and entrepreneurship, startups have become a magical realm where spending is someone else’s concern and tiresome revenue questions need not spoil the mood. You may even be encouraged to keep spending other people’s money until you find a path to profit. The problem with this magical realm is that it is a myth. The truth is that market forces and economic rules govern startups. Entrepreneurs must solve real—not imaginary—problems, deliver value, generate revenue, and cover expenses. Companies either make money or close. Many startups ignore this reality. Their operators stall rather than confront unavoidable realities such as growth, profitability, and becoming genuinely sustainable businesses. Start with “we’ll figure out how to make money later,” and your venture will eventually become a joke. It is as absurd as building a spacecraft while telling yourself, “Let’s assume gravity does not exist.” An enterprise with no path to profit is not a business, but a hobby. So do not begin with a mindset of dependence. Build a real business instead. Real businesses are always tied to real problems. From day one, a real business requires you to think about making a profit. It does not let founders hide deeper problems behind “It’s fine—we’re a startup!” Build a real business from the start. That greatly improves your chances. #重來 (Rework)