David Holton’s Post

Don't Just read the Subtopics! read them thoroughly. 🌟 Ready to embark on an exciting new journey? Thinking about joining a startup? Here are 5 essential things to know before you take the plunge: 1️⃣ Embrace Ambiguity: Dive into the unknown! Startups thrive in ever-evolving landscapes. Your ability to adapt and stay flexible will be your superpower in navigating this thrilling environment. 2️⃣ Wear Multiple Hats: Step out of your comfort zone and explore your potential! At a startup, you'll get to contribute in various roles, gaining invaluable experience and making a real impact. 3️⃣ Expect Long Hours: Passion fuels progress. The startup grind might be intense, but the dedication you pour in will help build something extraordinary. Every effort counts towards achieving incredible milestones. 4️⃣ High Risk, High Reward: Embrace the challenge! Startups come with uncertainties, but they also offer unmatched opportunities for growth and making a significant difference. Assess the risks, but focus on the amazing potential ahead. 5️⃣ Culture Fit Matters: Join a team that feels like family. In the close-knit world of startups, aligning with the company's values and mission is crucial. Together, you'll create something meaningful and impactful. Joining a startup is not just a job—it's an adventure filled with challenges and remarkable rewards. Do your homework, ask the right questions, and get ready to embark on a journey of growth and innovation! #StartupLife #CareerGrowth #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Tech #Motivation

Too few startups are honest about the amount of work that is required to achieve success even for the best & smartest people. I do not believe that 9-to-5 nor 5 days a week make sense at startups. The default outcome of startups is failure and the only way to overcome that is a mix of incredibly hard work, high IQ, and luck. Other funded startups with very smart people are trying to build better products than yours. Large companies with armies of engineers, sales people, and marketers want to eat your lunch. How can you beat the odds with the same amount of work as the next person? But that's just one part of the equation. The reason why I've burned out in the past wasn't work alone. It also was a lack of recognition. Not as much money as I should've gotten, not as much visibility and career growth as I should've had. When the upside and recognition scales with the amount of work, burning out is lot more rare. To make it fair, startups must build a reward system where each team member's compensation and growth scales with their business impact, which itself scales with the amount of work.

Dear Startup Leaders, Make sure your teams understand what it means to be a startup. I cannot tell you how many times over the years I’ve had conversations with team members who didn’t understand how their part contributed to the bigger picture. Or even what the bigger picture was. And it was not their fault, especially if it’s their first time in a startup. I was in that very spot many years ago and was afraid to speak up and ask questions. I am a big believer in showing your team how their position drives the mission forward and impacts the business trajectory (for good or bad). Take the time to explain to them what all of these things mean and how they impact it: - How funding works. - What it means to the company when you take in another round of funding. - What runway means! - The difference between a startup and a small business. - How their equity works! What vesting means (don’t assume that they know). - What happens in a board meeting and what the board cares about. - Why speed, agility, and growth are lifelines. - What the important metrics are and what the levers are to impact them. - Why each of the teams and areas of the company plays important and vital parts to success. And that not one team is more important than the other in the overall picture. Especially in earlier stages, everyone at every level in the organization impacts the success of the company. By helping equip them with the bigger picture, it can change the meaning of the work that they do every single day.

Are you the biggest threat to your startup's success? I've observed many early-stage companies make the same mistakes. 🔧 Over-engineering: Building complex solutions when simple ones would suffice. Keep in mind, perfect is the enemy of done. 💸 Premature scaling: Hiring too quickly or overspending before achieving product-market fit. Adding extra overhead slows everything else down. 🎯 Losing focus: Pursuing every opportunity instead of perfecting your core offering. Avoid being a jack of all trades, master of none, especially if it is just to please an investor. 🔮 Ignoring market feedback: Developing in isolation without real user feedback. Your vision matters, but so do your customers' actual needs. Release often and gather valuable insights quickly. ⏰ Poor time management: Founders trying to handle everything themselves. Delegation is crucial, even in the early stages. 💼 Neglecting company culture: Culture is important for all companies, not just big tech. It begins on day one and shapes your future. These errors can derail a promising startup. The good news is that they're all preventable with proper guidance and experience. #StartupAdvice #TechStartups #FractionalCTO

Scaling beyond initial success is a challenge many startups face. Sure, having a great product is essential, but it's only half the battle. What truly propels consistent growth is a powerful sales engine. Relying on average talent can cap your potential and keep "unicorn" status out of reach. The secret weapon for successful startups? A high-caliber sales team. Research by McKinsey shows that a highly effective sales force is 4x more likely to achieve profitable growth. Imagine what that kind of impact could do for your startup. It's not just about filling seats; it's about bringing in the right people who can drive your vision forward. Building a the best sales team isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a must-have if you're serious about scaling. Have you thought about your hiring goals for the rest of this year?

Over the past 5 years working in startups, I’ve learned that this environment isn’t for everyone - but if it is for you, it can be incredibly rewarding. At Mira, we value a specific mindset and set of qualities that help our team thrive. 💡 Flexibility and resilience. Priorities, requirements, and the environment change quickly. You need to be comfortable learning new things on the fly - often things no one else in the company knows how to do - and adapting without feeling overwhelmed or stressed. 💡 "Improve and implement" attitude. If you can spot what the company needs, indicate and address issues, take ownership, even outside your usual responsibilities, you’ll thrive here. 💡 Thriving in a fast-paced environment. Things move quickly (sometimes too quickly), and priorities shift rapidly. If you can navigate this without stress and see it as an opportunity to make an impact, you’ll fit right in. 💡 High self-awareness. Knowing yourself well helps you understand when you need to rest, how best to relieve stress, and how to recover quickly, ensuring you maintain your energy and focus. 💡 A growth mindset. To help both you and the startup grow, you should always be asking, “How can we do this better and more efficiently?” Being eager to learn, adapt, and continuously improve is crucial. Working in a startup is challenging, but the inspiration and growth you experience make it all worthwhile. And here’s a photo of my daughter, who already embodies these startup qualities - though flexibility is still a work in progress 😁 #startups #femtech #mirafertility #startupculture

Are you in the early stages of your career and wondering what your next move should be? Here’s why joining a startup could be the perfect choice: 1) Diverse Learning Opportunities: Get hands-on experience across various functions, gaining a broad skill set and a comprehensive understanding of how businesses operate. 2) Rapid Growth: Startups offer a dynamic environment where you can take on more responsibility and accelerate your career growth much faster than in traditional roles. 3) Close-Knit Teams: Work closely with passionate and data driven team members, including direct access to founders and senior leaders. This provides invaluable mentorship and networking opportunities. 4) Innovation & Creativity: Your ideas can make a real impact. Startups thrive on innovation, giving you the freedom to think creatively and solve unique challenges. 5) Entrepreneurial Mindset: Develop an entrepreneurial mindset that will benefit you throughout your career, whether you stay in startups or venture into other paths. 6) Make a difference: Contribute to something meaningful. Being part of a startup means helping to build something from the ground up, which is incredibly rewarding. If you’ve worked at a startup, you can share your experiences below! ⬇️ #StartupLife #EarlyCareer #CareerGrowth #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #CareerAdvice

"Which is better?" is a question that often leads to pointless debates. In reality, each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some examples to show you what I mean: Working for a big corporation vs. a small startup: Big corporation pros: - Established brand - Stability & resources - Plenty of room for promotion Big corporation cons: - Rigid structure - Slow decision-making - Less direct impact Small startup pros: - Flexibility & agility - More ownership & influence - Faster pace of growth Small startup cons: - Unstable funding - Unclear career progression - Higher workload The point is: it's not about which option is better, but about which option is better for YOU. Understand your own goals, strengths, and limitations, and then choose the path that aligns best with them. And don't forget to keep an open mind and learn from both the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

🚀 **Navigating the Startup World: Challenges and Opportunities** Are you considering a career in startups? 🌟 As someone who has worked in the startup ecosystem, I've experienced both the highs and lows. Let's dive into what makes this journey unique and why it might be the right path for you. 🌐 **Advantages:** 1. **Diverse Learning**: In startups, you wear many hats. You'll gain exposure to various aspects of the business, from marketing to product development. 2. **Innovation**: Startups thrive on creativity. You'll have the chance to think outside the box and contribute fresh ideas. 3. **Decision-Making**: Your voice matters. Startups empower you to make impactful decisions. 4. **Ownership**: Joining early means you're part of the foundation. Your work directly shapes the company's future. 5. **Flexibility**: Work-life balance and remote options are often more achievable in startup environments. **Challenges:** 1. **Long Hours**: Startup life can be intense. Be prepared for late nights and high expectations. 2. **Financial Uncertainty**: Initial salaries may not match corporate levels. Passion drives you forward. 3. **Risk**: Startups can fail. It's a rollercoaster, but the ride is exhilarating. Remember, every startup is unique. Choose wisely, align with your values, and embrace the adventure! 🚀🌟 #startuplife #entrepreneurship #careeradvice #innovation #workinstartups

Curious about what opportunities lie ahead for those involved in startups? In a startup, possibilities abound! You're not just a team member; you're a vital part of a dynamic team, influencing the company's future. 💥 Here are a few perks you can look forward to: - Rapid Growth: In a startup, things move fast! You'll have the opportunity to wear multiple hats, take on new challenges, and grow both personally and professionally at lightning speed. - Independence and Liberty: You'll have the freedom to experiment with new processes and approaches, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset. Trust and empowerment from the founders allow employees to take initiative and make decisions. - Impact: Ever dreamt of making a real difference? In a startup, your contributions directly impact the success of the company. Your ideas matter, and you'll see the results of your hard work firsthand. - Innovation: Startups thrive on innovation and creativity. You'll be surrounded by forward-thinkers and problem-solvers, constantly pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas. - Flexibility: Say goodbye to rigid corporate structures! Startups offer a flexible work environment where creativity and initiative are valued. - Minimal Bureaucracy: Startups have fewer layers of management and more direct communication compared to larger companies. This fosters an environment where your work has a visible impact, making your contributions more meaningful and fulfilling. #startup #nouns