Startups & Ugly Babies

When I work with founders, I think about ugly babies.

Yup I said it - most newborns look like little grumpy old men. A few years later, you may look back at photos and laugh at truly how stinky they look.

But when you are in the thick of it, when you are in the trenches, that baby is the best most beautiful thing you have ever seen and you cannot see it any other way. We are programmed this way to survive. We have to think this way.

Same with founders.

Your product.
Your tech.
Your device.
Your app.

It’s the most beautiful thing ever.
You believe it in so wholeheartedly.
It’s impossible to imagine a world where
someone else wouldn’t see the value right away.

And this is key to your survival.
The start up world is scrappy,
you need grit, you need to believe in your product.

But it really hurts your ability to communicate value.

That’s why having good people around you - trusted advisors - is key for all innovators who are so enamored with their ugly newborn.

You need outside input for effective value proposition.
Lean into the start up community.
Lean into your investors.
Lean into people who can help you reimagine the value your device can bring to the table.

Founders and Innovators - Curious to know - how is outside input helping you refine your vision?