In a recent newsletter, I talked about how the first two laws of thermodynamics apply to the world of business (you either grow or you die). But growth isn’t something that just happens on its own. It requires consideration, careful planning, and — perhaps most of all — structure.
To build a truly great company, you must first craft a Vision that will shape your efforts. Once you have that, develop the structure that will turn your Vision into a business, and that business into a company that’s set up for long-term success. There are many models and frameworks available for you to shape this around. My recent blog post covers the importance of “structure first, people second” and offers some examples of what that looks like for an early-stage business.
Once you have the right structures in place and you’ve mastered the Structure Competency (details in the blog), that’s when you can find the right group of people to bring on board and help bring your Vision to life. But before you form your dream team, creating that foundation — building out those uniquely integral structures — is key.
Perspectives
"I'm a true believer in the strength of teamwork, in the power of dreams, and in the absolute necessity of a support structure."
Takeaway: No matter how detailed your Vision is or how life-changing your products are, a solid structure is necessary to see your business mature and prosper. I’ve experienced firsthand how powerful Ninety’s software is, but none of this could have happened without the intentional foundation that this company was built upon. When you put structure first and people second, the pathway to grow and scale suddenly becomes much clearer.
“Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare.”
Takeaway: Figuring out your company's structure is the first step to finding and hiring the right people. For true teamwork to exist, you need great teams. Identifying Core Values, Core Functions, and Compelling and Audacious Goals (CAGs) gives you a tailor-made lens through which to recruit, hire, and retain the best people for your organization.
Mark My Words
Founders are sometimes secretly afraid of growth. Why? Because when a company grows, it brings about significant change.
One of these changes is your leadership structure. At a certain point, this could look like you stepping back from some responsibilities and passing the baton to a successor. Once your company is structurally sound, assembling your dream team to come in and drive business growth is one of your most important tasks. It can be incredibly difficult to lessen your involvement in the company you’ve created, but having the right people working alongside you can help make this transition a little easier.
Take this as a sign that you’ve done something right: You built the beginnings of a great company, and growth ensued. Your structure-first approach has paid off. Your reward is knowing you’ve created a company that you’ll love forever, even if your role as a founder looks different over time. The truth is that this is the stage most companies are never able to realize. And if this happens to your organization, it’s not just luck — you worked hard to reach the top of the mountain. Just remember not to stall or self-sabotage before you have a chance to get there.
Stay Tuned
Every company needs guideposts to help stay on track. I deeply believe in using Focus Filters to transform your approach to decision-making, empowering you to build a thriving company that makes a lasting impact.
Our next issue will cover how Focus Filters can help ambitious founders like you create order amidst chaos and prioritize what’s truly important to help achieve your Vision.
What Do You Think?
I’d love to hear how this newsletter has helped you on your journey as an ambitious founder. Want to leave a review or offer suggestions for improvement (aka feedforward)? Share your thoughts using this form, and your response could be featured on Ninety’s website.
