Not that I’ve had any experience in it, yet having observed family, friends and relatives taking care of their newly born, I got the feeling that it’s so similar to launching a start up.
Not that I’ve had any experience in it, yet having observed family, friends and relatives taking care of their newly born, I got the feeling that it’s so similar to launching a start up.
You get to see signs of motherhood right from the moment you know that you’ve conceived (I am talking about both baby and start up).
And then comes a day when a microscopic symptom of progress takes over months of endless challenge, preparation and sacrifice. It sounds so appropriate for both of them, does it not? We see five ways in which launching a start up is similar to having a baby. Read on!
1. Idea hits when you’re high
It would have been a Friday evening. Having slogged at work, you couldn’t wait to get to the bar table. Three shots and you’re high. The first thing that comes to your mind is quitting this good for nothing job and taking a break from everything which comes down to two options- Having a baby, if you’re married or launching your own company, does not matter if you are married or not.
2. Conceiving and delivering
Nausea and anxiety are the first symptoms of conceiving both- the baby and the idea. You are definitely going to go through mood swings (justified during pregnancy) and because of things not working out as you want them to in case of a start up, will crave for weird combinations of food and will have all the ‘what-if’ thoughts running through your mind. The tension you’re in on the day of launch or delivery is something that nobdy else can share with you even if they wanted to.
3. Sleep deprived
You know you need sleep and yet you’re unable to. You cannot twist and turn at all, or you just keep twisting and turning throughout the night, either way you’re the one who has to bear the consequence.
4. Risks involved
The best similarity between the two. Where you need to be very cautious about your diet, movements, complications and other relevant things when it comes to giving birth to a baby, you need to be fully prepared to take risks in case of a startup. It is evitable that even a minor mistake could lead you in a very odd or risky situation.
5. Break Even point
Not expecting any returns from either of the ventures (at least soon enough) is something you would be very aware of. While it takes a long time to nurture a child and wanting nothing but a high emotional quotient in return (in India parents reach half of that stage when kids get married), you can’t really expect your company to reach the state of no profit- no loss within two months of its launching. It definitely has a lot of competition and risks involved, which is why it is going to take at least a few years to reach a break even point.
Things are going to be more like a roller coaster in both the cases. One moment you feel great and the next moment you feel hopeless. The highs are very high and the lows are very low. So, if you really want to feel what a mother feels for her baby, maybe launching a startup will give you some idea about it.
