You either love life or you are afraid to die.
That’s how a Danish politician tried to frame the peoples response to Covid-19 on Twitter yesterday.
Naturally, it is both a false, primitive and superficial way of putting it.
I could just as well say that there are those that are full of themselves and only care about what’s good for themselves – and then there are those who think about others and want to look after each other. And I would be equally right. Or not.
It got me thinking though. About what kind of personality it takes to build and grow something for the benefit of others; a startup that can truly get to a point where it delivers the maximum impact.
Can someone obsessed with ego do that? You could argue, yes. History is full of them: Steve Jobs of course comes to mind. Maybe our own Jesper Buch too. But are they the norm, or are they truly outliers?
I ask because I don’t know. But I am both fascinated and curious about it.
My logic would assume that in order to truly due something for others and have the opportunity to create real impact, you need to be able to put your own needs and wants to the back of the cue.
Exceed for the need to do something good for others, of course. Call it having a vision, if you will.
I see a lot of talented people in the startup community struggle and (sometimes) fail, because they are more obsessed with living the startup ‘dream’ than they are with putting the needs of others – their customers – first.
It remains a recurring theme and one of the primary reasons why so many startups end up failing.
And it is just a crying shame, if your ego and inability to serve others before yourself end up being the thing that kills you.
(Photo: Pixabay.com)