All religions preach their followers not to sin. Christianity has gone to the extent of compiling a list of Seven Deadly Sins, which no man should commit under any circumstances. I was enlightened about this list not by a sermon, as most people would expect, but by David Fincher’s outstanding 1995 movie, Se7en, in which a “deranged serial killer” educates two investigating officers about the seven deadly sins by initiating a series of murders each illustrating one of these sins. I realized that this list would hold relevant not only for a person in general, but also for startups, which need to be greatly disciplined if they are to succeed. Budding entrepreneurs, as well as founders of startups, must find this article useful.
1. Gluttony: Any startup should take good care not to consume huge amounts of resources or finances in the initial stages without generating a proportionate outcome. Simply eating-up the assets to the extent of draining out the resource-tank to emptiness will prove fatal to the company.
2. Greed: It is good to be ambitious for any startup, but ambitious with rationality. Preliminary goals need to be worked out realistically so that they are achievable. Startups need to acknowledge the fact that things will come to pass at their own pace and that greed for rapid expansions or massive profits will only lead to dejection.
3. Sloth: In the startup stage, consistent and prolific work is the most important. Startups just can’t afford to laze around since they already endure many limitations which makes the initial developmental stages much more demanding.
4. Lust: Whenever any company sets its feet in the startup ecosystem, it is confronted by many attractive and distractive whores in the form of marvelous expansion plans, or a new business idea altogether. Instead of lusting after them, it is important for the firm to focus on what it intends to do, accomplish that first and then consider the feasibility of other seemingly profitable propositions.
5. Pride: Small accomplishments, of course, need to be celebrated by startups for a spirit boost, but they should never get carried away to believing that they are exceptionally capable, even if they are. A startup should behave like a startup and never indulge in self-pride creating illusions of great success, which may end-up misguiding their own progress.
6. Envy: Although the startup ecosystem promotes their healthy coexistence, there may arise situations where startups may get envious of the growth of their fellow startups. This is one emotion that needs to be overcome immediately. Instead of sulking on fate, startups need to analyze why and how the others achieved something they themselves could not, and try to work on similar lines.
7. Wrath: Not every step a startup takes necessarily reaps benefits. In the event of failures, small or big, it is quite likely to develop dissatisfactions and frustrations. What is important is to avoid taking impulsive decisions in a fit of rage. The path to success is always chilled-out and laced with snow. The startup needs to behave like a skilled skier who glides smoothly on this path, although with twists and turns, and lands down safely. An annoyed mental state will lead to a bumpy ride and a dreadful fall at the end of it.
