If you take a quick look at the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, you’d probably conclude there isn’t much to be learned from studying them. The paths they took to become Chris Kirubi and Aliko Dangote are as unique as they are.
But—and it’s a huge but—while their behaviour is idiosyncratic, their thinking is not.
People who have successfully started two or more companies—typically follow the same approach. And if it has worked for them, it may very well work for you.
They Really Wanted to Do What They Set Out to Do
If you don’t have sufficient desire, you won’t give anything your best efforts.
They Begin by Taking a Small Step Toward Their Goal
Starting anything new is risky. You don’t want to move too far too fast. Everything you have probably read about entrepreneurs says they love risk. Nothing can be further from the truth.
After Taking That Small Step, They Stop to See What They Have Learned
Maybe they learn their initial goal is still a good one. Maybe the market tells them they need to go in another direction. Maybe they come to see that they don’t have the requisite desire anymore. The point is after taking that first small step, they come to a complete stop and consider everything that has happened.
Once They Understand What They Learned, They Take Another Small Step
…and go through the cycle once again.
In other words the “formula” for success is figuring out what you truly want to do. And once you know: Act. Learn. Build. Repeat.
What This Means
Implicit in this approach is that your initial idea is going to morph over time, given what you learn in the marketplace. Initially, Howard Shultz had Italian opera playing as background music at Starbucks. Michael Dell began his company by doing nothing more than assembling IBM personal computer knockoffs. The best entrepreneurs don’t wait until their product or service is perfect. They get it “close enough” and launch. They change whatever it is they have to change as they go.