The Leadership Insider network is an online community where the most thoughtful and influential people in business contribute answers to timely questions about careers and leadership. Today’s answer to the question “What advice would you give someone looking to start their own business?” is by Kyle Wong, CEO of Pixlee.
If you’re looking to start your own business, the good news is that there are a lot of startup resources out there to help you make that decision. The bad news is, as a result, there’s also a lot of noise. Since founding Pixlee, I’ve found that the following pieces of advice are crucial when considering whether or not you want to become an entrepreneur:
Embrace uncertainty
Many professions have a specific course or direction you can follow to be successful. Although you may not be able to predict when you will enter each new level of your career, the road map is still there for guidance. However, this doesn’t exist in startups. You have to be comfortable with uncertainty. There is no fixed timetable or path when starting your own business.
Ask for help
As a startup founder, you cannot expect yourself to be an expert in everything. You need to understand your weaknesses and attract the right people and resources to complement your skill-set. Be comfortable asking for help. Many other successful entrepreneurs have been in your shoes and have faced similar struggles. Meet smart people, stay connected, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Scale at your own pace
Building a great company will not happen overnight. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to grow and scale at a pace that makes sense for your business. There will always be companies that will grow faster than yours. But trying to keep up with them before your company has the infrastructure in place can be disastrous for your culture, clients, and product.
Read all answers to the Leadership Insider question: What advice would you give someone looking to start their own business?
How to avoid a startup failure by Jim Yu, CEO and co-founder of BrightEdge.
3 things to consider before starting your own business by Sunil Rajaraman, co-founder of Scripted.com.
4 ways to persuade people to join your startup by Nir Polak, CEO and co-founder of Exabeam.
GoDaddy CEO’s 5 tips for aspiring entrepreneurs by Blake Irving, CEO of GoDaddy.
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