START UP AND DOWN! - by Samuel Ibok

I think probably one of the craziest hurdles a startup can face is building the right team. The quote "teamwork makes the dream work" wasn't designed to only excite us. It's way deeper than that. A great idea may never see the light of day in the hands of the wrong team. For some reason, diversity, which should be a plus for teams, seems to have a way of creating issues. A great team is not necessarily a committee of extremely smart people. Don't get me wrong; having smart people is great, but it's not enough. Sometimes you can have people who understand what you're building probably more than you do but aren't very hands-on or skilled. Do you lay them off or try to equip them with the requisite skills? For me, having someone who's sold out on your vision is something to treasure. That individual is gold. That person is a reminder that any vision bigger than oneself is worth pursuing. Similarly, having people like that will keep you running on days when your vision seems small or not worthy of pursuit. Notably, cherish those who have the great skills to help your vision; they may not be sold out or enthusiastic about your dream, but their skills can give life to your plans. Those people aren't terrible; they are just people! The perfect team doesn't exist. Having a team where multiple opinions are welcome and where people can disagree yet pursue the big picture is an underrated flex. For me, that's a team worth protecting. Also, remember that most startups start down! I mean, they struggle for a while and may have to bootstrap before they get funding. In some cases, the founders and initial team don't earn salaries for months. So, before you start feeling entitled, remember that someone is doing Pro bono work for you. Some people with great ideas are stuck with just their ideas because they don't know how to build a team. I totally get that, and it's not necessarily your fault. You're 21 with a year of experience, and you've got this idea you think is worth pursuing. Naturally, you've not worked with teams long enough, so your fear is valid but shouldn't hold you back for long. I dare you to look within your contacts and tell me you don't have people you can start building with. People who may even volunteer to help you. Again, look within your immediate sphere of influence, and there's no shame in asking for help. But please be very careful with your ideas. Yes, not everyone may see it, and others have the resources to duplicate your ideas. Yes, your intellectual property can be stolen, and you may lack the resources to fight it. Start where you are with what you have and who you have. Progress takes work. To start, you must show up and be present. Cheers!

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