Comments on: The Perils of Founderitis http://www.ensight.org/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/ I'm The Boss @ netmobs, past CEO of b5media, author of Blog Marketing and a hardcore Canadian Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:46:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mikhail http://www.ensight.org/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/comment-page-1/#comment-97951 Mikhail Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:33:29 +0000 http://www.ensight.org/archives/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/#comment-97951 Stew, I agree with your possible reasoning for why many people sell their start ups. I would wonder however if maybe that's the problem to begin with. The fear of uncertainty in the second phase of building a business stops them from building a strong enough team to keep the company running. I would wonder why they didn't focus on building a strong team of leaders in the first place who can repeat a system of growth. The best companies have a large pool of people who can step into key positions and get the job done. Do you think that maybe they are neglecting this habit in their start up phase? Stew,
I agree with your possible reasoning for why many people sell their start ups. I would wonder however if maybe that’s the problem to begin with. The fear of uncertainty in the second phase of building a business stops them from building a strong enough team to keep the company running.

I would wonder why they didn’t focus on building a strong team of leaders in the first place who can repeat a system of growth. The best companies have a large pool of people who can step into key positions and get the job done. Do you think that maybe they are neglecting this habit in their start up phase?

]]> By: Stew Francis http://www.ensight.org/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/comment-page-1/#comment-97571 Stew Francis Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:18:14 +0000 http://www.ensight.org/archives/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/#comment-97571 Regarding GeekMommy's comment that "I would posit a guess that part of the reason so many “successful” entrepreneurs seem to be serial entrepreneurs is that it is sometimes easier just to sell their creation and move on to the next challenge than it is to slowly transition to a state of lesser involvement in the day-to-day functioning of their companies." I know a few entrepreneurs that were serial and they have pointed out that getting a company to survive requires an entire set of new skills and many serial entrepreneurs have 1 or more failures where they have lost everything. Like anything, there is a learning curve and it is easy to come up with a weak idea for a company, harder to come up with a good idea, and then there are the realities of that idea thriving and surviving. Regarding GeekMommy’s comment that “I would posit a guess that part of the reason so many “successful” entrepreneurs seem to be serial entrepreneurs is that it is sometimes easier just to sell their creation and move on to the next challenge than it is to slowly transition to a state of lesser involvement in the day-to-day functioning of their companies.”

I know a few entrepreneurs that were serial and they have pointed out that getting a company to survive requires an entire set of new skills and many serial entrepreneurs have 1 or more failures where they have lost everything. Like anything, there is a learning curve and it is easy to come up with a weak idea for a company, harder to come up with a good idea, and then there are the realities of that idea thriving and surviving.

]]> By: Stew Francis http://www.ensight.org/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/comment-page-1/#comment-97163 Stew Francis Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:57:25 +0000 http://www.ensight.org/archives/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/#comment-97163 Jeremy, thanks for sharing those thoughts about hiring. I'm in my own company after 20 years in other peoples and hiring and performance management are two areas that I felt I was very good at as an IT manager. What rings true is the idea that there is a life cycle to a company and that you need to extract yourself as a founder over time and allow specialists to take over. That was how the industrial revolution worked and it is not really a surprise that it works that way for the tech revolution. I've talked to Rick once and attended one of his seminars and he is an excellent presenter with knowledge in a facinating field - the VC world. As a blogger myself I find B5 to be a fascinating company and best wishes to you going forward. Stew Jeremy,

thanks for sharing those thoughts about hiring. I’m in my own company after 20 years in other peoples and hiring and performance management are two areas that I felt I was very good at as an IT manager. What rings true is the idea that there is a life cycle to a company and that you need to extract yourself as a founder over time and allow specialists to take over. That was how the industrial revolution worked and it is not really a surprise that it works that way for the tech revolution. I’ve talked to Rick once and attended one of his seminars and he is an excellent presenter with knowledge in a facinating field – the VC world. As a blogger myself I find B5 to be a fascinating company and best wishes to you going forward.

Stew

]]> By: Adriana http://www.ensight.org/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/comment-page-1/#comment-96872 Adriana Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:36:32 +0000 http://www.ensight.org/archives/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/#comment-96872 Interesting and insightful post Jeremy. Thanks for sharing it. Interesting and insightful post Jeremy. Thanks for sharing it.

]]> By: GeekMommy http://www.ensight.org/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/comment-page-1/#comment-95168 GeekMommy Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:36:06 +0000 http://www.ensight.org/archives/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/#comment-95168 Jeremy - I figured I should wander over and read a bit here, quite glad I did. This is an amazingly insightful post, even if it was triggered by something someone else wrote. It's not common that most founders see themselves in something like that - though they might see it in others. I would posit a guess that part of the reason so many "successful" entrepreneurs seem to be serial entrepreneurs is that it is sometimes easier just to sell their creation and move on to the next challenge than it is to slowly transition to a state of lesser involvement in the day-to-day functioning of their companies. Start-ups are a different mindset entirely than standard long-term corporate structures. Still, there is much to be said for those who are able to roll with the changes and adapt to bringing in those who are equally good or even at times better at the things we pride ourselves at being 'strong' in. Jeremy – I figured I should wander over and read a bit here, quite glad I did.
This is an amazingly insightful post, even if it was triggered by something someone else wrote. It’s not common that most founders see themselves in something like that – though they might see it in others.

I would posit a guess that part of the reason so many “successful” entrepreneurs seem to be serial entrepreneurs is that it is sometimes easier just to sell their creation and move on to the next challenge than it is to slowly transition to a state of lesser involvement in the day-to-day functioning of their companies. Start-ups are a different mindset entirely than standard long-term corporate structures.

Still, there is much to be said for those who are able to roll with the changes and adapt to bringing in those who are equally good or even at times better at the things we pride ourselves at being ’strong’ in.

]]> By: Todd Vernon http://www.ensight.org/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/comment-page-1/#comment-94800 Todd Vernon Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:53:37 +0000 http://www.ensight.org/archives/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/#comment-94800 Jeremy, Great post. My last company Raindance Communications competed with WebEx for over 6 years and they kicked our ass. As i look back i believe it was a healthy dose of founderitis that always make us believe we knew what the market wanted more then the market. Thanks for sharing. Jeremy, Great post. My last company Raindance Communications competed with WebEx for over 6 years and they kicked our ass. As i look back i believe it was a healthy dose of founderitis that always make us believe we knew what the market wanted more then the market. Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Noobpreneur http://www.ensight.org/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/comment-page-1/#comment-94430 Noobpreneur Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:06:37 +0000 http://www.ensight.org/archives/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/#comment-94430 Hi Jeremy, This is my first visit to your blog, and I have to say it's high quality of those of other probloggers :) About founderitis - I experience it in some kind of ways - I own a franchise unit, and apparently I can localise the effect of founderitis :D However, I start a business blog (at Noobpreneur.com), and has been planning to delegate some writings to guest bloggers for some time, but I suffer severe founderitis if delegating is related to this blog :) Cheers! Hi Jeremy,

This is my first visit to your blog, and I have to say it’s high quality of those of other probloggers :)

About founderitis – I experience it in some kind of ways – I own a franchise unit, and apparently I can localise the effect of founderitis :D

However, I start a business blog (at Noobpreneur.com), and has been planning to delegate some writings to guest bloggers for some time, but I suffer severe founderitis if delegating is related to this blog :)

Cheers!

]]> By: Hannah Buy http://www.ensight.org/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/comment-page-1/#comment-93328 Hannah Buy Wed, 28 May 2008 16:28:18 +0000 http://www.ensight.org/archives/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/#comment-93328 I have expirienced this first hand at three IT companies! I'm now involved in charities, much less taxing in this respect:) I have expirienced this first hand at three IT companies! I’m now involved in charities, much less taxing in this respect:)

]]> By: verena http://www.ensight.org/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/comment-page-1/#comment-92950 verena Tue, 27 May 2008 10:25:37 +0000 http://www.ensight.org/archives/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/#comment-92950 how could i get bill gates' e-mail. will help me? how could i get bill gates’ e-mail.
will help me?

]]> By: Mikhail http://www.ensight.org/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/comment-page-1/#comment-92500 Mikhail Sun, 25 May 2008 22:55:15 +0000 http://www.ensight.org/archives/2008/05/20/the-perils-of-founderitis/#comment-92500 This is a great post. One thing I would add here is a need for accountability at all levels and a strong idea of the direction of your team. It's never a problem when you are able to become a "leader of leaders" to have to change direction but the ability to have a number of people who strongly understand the culture and direction at each level of management will ensure that everyone is being as efficient with their time as you are. I would suggest you encourage each of your best managers to find two or three people who they can go to and say "if ever you feel that I am not doing what's best for the company and its vision please pull me aside and explain your concerns." This has helped me personally avoid having my ego get too mixed up or have new technologies and fads have me stray farther away from my organizations vision than would be beneficial. This is a great post. One thing I would add here is a need for accountability at all levels and a strong idea of the direction of your team. It’s never a problem when you are able to become a “leader of leaders” to have to change direction but the ability to have a number of people who strongly understand the culture and direction at each level of management will ensure that everyone is being as efficient with their time as you are.
I would suggest you encourage each of your best managers to find two or three people who they can go to and say “if ever you feel that I am not doing what’s best for the company and its vision please pull me aside and explain your concerns.”
This has helped me personally avoid having my ego get too mixed up or have new technologies and fads have me stray farther away from my organizations vision than would be beneficial.

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