Recently I introduced a startup to a potential investor and they followed in 4 minutes.
How a startup handles time is a clear indicator of their culture and can be an indicator of their future success.
Why time is important
Time is everything in a startup. The resources we have fuel a timeline.
When resources run out, the timeline ends. The task is to extend the timeline before the hourglass runs out.
Time between actions is wasted.
If it takes 3 weeks to reply to an email, that’s 3 weeks added to the timeline with no intermediate value.
When it’s possible to feel the cadence of a company in their actions, it can pull the other party into the same rhythm.
The march to the next action is more likely.
Do you have a metronome that people can hear outside?
- When other people communicate with you, can they hear your time click?
- When you send updates, do they come in at the same time every week?
- Can others feel how much you get done in each cycle?
- Is the timing clear when you agree on the next actions?
Do you usually compress cycles?
- How can I automate this?
- Who could do this for me?
- Did I just manually create something that I’ve made many times before?
- Unnecessary activities clog my timeline and block the flow?
This is one way I measure myself
If a general activity takes too long, I know my systems are broken. My clock is broken.
It’s time to think, consider my schedule, clean up clutter and automate.