Businesses start up to solve the world’s problems.

But only 14% make it past the 20-year mark according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).    

I am endlessly fascinated with origin stories as well as their evolution, specifically the leadership decisions and structure created to impact business trajectory.  The truth is we can never really know what’s going on inside companies because they are driven by people and their relationships.  

Everyone loves a great success story and there are so many factors that contribute to success it can be hard to track.  Personologie makes it a practice to study success with our clients, something that is harder than you might think.  Not because people are averse to success but as humans, we are hardwired to focus on pain points and weaknesses over strengths and pleasure.   

Tracking the intentions, decisions, and interactions that led to success points (there are always many) is the most impactful way to identify future strategies and amplify success.   This can be even trickier in the fast-growth times of business, but those fast-growth sprints are when the team is in flow.

Reflection is the only method of thinking that generates learning and with time our perspectives change. 

Here are just a few things we like to look at when a start-up catches our eye.

Founding story: 

What was the impetus to create this product or service?  

All of us have great ideas but the execution and launch of an idea is the amazing thing.  Bringing it to market creates jobs, economic value, and much-needed solutions to the problem at hand.   

Leadership structure: 

At some point, the idea is taking on a life of its own and that requires decisions.  Decision-making is the key performance indicator of any business story and how they are made doesn’t happen in a silo.  Leadership structure provides the stability needed to get creative about the business.  

Funding:  

Funding means feedback and feedback is just data to inform decisions. The decisions that happen around a funding stage are the ones that have the greatest impact.  Getting any funding requires clear messaging and belief in the people.  Funding is the impact, making it a great subject for a reflection exercise.  

Interesting Start Ups: The List