Mom and Pop Disease - (part 1) "AGE-OLD START-UPS"

Many times I have encountered what I call "Age-Old Start Ups". What might that be you ask? Let me start by saying that human beings are very creative by nature. Especially when put in an entrepreneurial situation. That having been said, they are also creatures of habit. This is good when the habits are good habits and bad is always bad. These are companies that never go anywhere. They don't flourish or grow. they just exist! Sooner or later the passion runs out, the excitement dies down and the ability to create profit begins to stagnate.

Most people start a business in the same way. They have an idea. This idea falls in one of three categories. Passion, Profit, or both. I think we have all seen the "Passionate Approach". Someone will take grandma's recipe and begin production. While these labors of love are sometimes not as profitable as we would like, step one is accomplished, we have success.Then there is the "Profit Approach". Someone has an idea and creates something new or puts a new twist on an existing product. All seems to be working well, profit begins to roll in and voila, success. Last but not least, you have the combination of the two. A great passion mixed with a great idea, with a generous helping of profit. How can that miss, right? Again success.

NOW WHAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In my experience, this is a very important point in the future of the process. This is where everything changes (one way or another). The next logical step is at hand and must be taken! A start-up is like a new born baby. It must be nourished and cared fore. As it grows with age different steps must be taken or negative things begin to happen. As with children, all business models, especially start-ups need constant care if expected to survive and mature.The moment you become over confident or think you can put your feet up and coast you risk creating "The Age Old Start-Up".

 In my next post we will review the commonalities of the approaches, the different turns that can be taken and why and how to take those turns.