No ENDGAME when building your startup!
By: Deep Malhotra
Tags: Entrepreneurship, Startup Lessons, Avengers, Movies, Startup

Avengers Endgame — Whatever it takes!

“This is gonna work” — Natasha Romanoff

“I know it is. Because I don’t know what I am gonna do if it doesn’t” — Steve Rogers

Well, we all have been in this situation at some point, maybe not while saving the universe, but while saving your startup. After all, for an entrepreneur saving his/her own startup is like saving the universe and we may face the challenge of taking it to the brink of extinction, multiple times while building it.

(If you have not realised, this one is about the Avengers Endgame. So in case you haven’t watched the movie yet, stop reading further and return once you have.)

What inspires you in the Endgame is the story of failed heroes and their comeback. Similarly, in the life of an entrepreneur, failing is a part of the game. If you have never failed, you have never been tested, and then you haven’t seen your best yet. A setback is only an opportunity for you to come back stronger. Below are some of the entrepreneurial hacks that the Avengers Endgame teaches us all:

“I am inevitable” — Thanos

But, nothing is inevitable:

Thanos thought he cannot be defeated and he cannot be avoided. When you are building your business, some situations may seem inescapable at times, but things can change in a snap and not all of that is going to be for the good so be ready for it.

“Because before you didn’t have me.” — Carol Danvers

Fresh faces give fresh perspective:

Captain Marvel joining the team helped the Avengers get a new standpoint. Sometimes in your startup also you need a different perspective to the problem. Recruiting a team with diverse experience and a new skill set that no one in the team possesses always helps.

“Everything is unpredictable in the quantum realm” — Scott Lang

Small things make the difference:

If it wasn’t for the mouse, the Ant-Man would have been still stuck in the quantum realm and everything would’ve been like Thanos wanted, i.e. 50% of us not being around. When building your startup too, smaller things like timing of your launch matter. They may not be in your control but can have a major impact on the future of your startup.

“Love You 3000” — Morgan Stark

Value the one who matters:

When Morgan Stark said this to Tony it lit his face with positivity. Even if things look southwards in your business what matters is that your customers and investors love you. Because they will make sure you tide through the tough times and keep you strong so you continue building.

“Say Green” — Professor Hulk

Multi-skill individuals matter in the team:

It wasn’t the angry Hulk that got things restarted, but the Professor Hulk. Sometimes if you are not up to the mark with your core competency you can chip in with another skill to make the required difference. Hence, multi-skilled talent in your core team can be an important factor for the growth of your startup.

“I’m the strongest Avenger. So this responsibility falls upon me.” — Thor

The best person may not be right for the job:

Thor is arguably the strongest of the Avenger and he stepped in front to take the fatal job of snapping the infinity gauntlet to make things back to normal. But he was clearly not in any condition to do so. While building your business too you may come across many situations where you might think you are the best one to take the tough task like Thor, but you may not be the right one for it.

“This is the fight of our lives. And we’re going to win. Whatever it takes.” — Captain America

True grit is rewriting your story when you are being written off:

Captain America gives a gritty speech that boosts the Avengers. Even for us entrepreneurs in tough situations, it is the grit that matters. Battles are not won alone, but they don’t end till the last one is fighting, hence never shy away from putting your best punch forward. In the end when it’s over and you look into the mirror smiling it won’t reflect your grit, but your result.

“Part of the journey is the end”. — Tony Stark

Goal is to keep going on:

Building your startup is actually a never-ending Infinity War. You need to give it all to make sure it reaches it’s true worth. It isn’t about the destination but the journey you need to cherish. Sometimes you just need to see the situation through rose-tinted glasses to make the path ahead look rosy, even if it isn’t, and keep going on. So that in the end, you can make it look like you did it all with a snap of your fingers and declare like Tony

“I am Iron Man”.

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About the Author:

Deep Malhotra is the Co-Founder of BeckFriends.com & GNMV Co-Working Spaces. Deep has entrepreneurial and startup experience in working & building companies like Google, MySpace.com & rediff.com.

Feel free to write with your thoughts and opinions on deep@imgemini.com or follow on Twitter: @deepmalhotra or Instagram: @_deepmalhotra or Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepmalhotra/