Decide to act

I remember the bane of 'analysis paralysis' from my corporate years - there was always one faction that favored lengthy and laborious analysis before even agreeing to a proposal, sometimes to the extent that the proposal became obsolete. While understanding and supporting the need for analysis, I personally preferred the 'do your homework quickly, highlight the risks, plan an escape route and then go for it' approach myself and often had to dig in deep to find patience when faced with endless analysis that I couldn't control.

But for an entrepreneur, quick decisions are a necessity not an option. In an earlier post I'd written about the adaptive startup and why it is important for a startup to change, but there has to be a decision to act first in order to have something that requires change. As an early stage entrepreneur, you have to remember there's no such thing as a perfect product or a perfect market or even a perfect team - you've got to lead with what you've got and make something happen. Granted you may find that you've headed in the wrong direction and you have to make course corrections, but at least you're moving. It's hard to be agile if you're static.

I was reminded of this recently by two things. First, I was contemplating launching a new program but was concerned about the fact that the software was missing a couple of features that I felt to be key and that I didn't have dedicated resources to get started. Most of all I wasn't sure this program would even be successful though on paper it seemed so, and it didn't help that everyone around me was in tactical mode and couldn't meaningfully engage in a discussion in a timely manner. The standard process would have been to take more time to do deeper analysis on viability as well as assess the software changes impact before making the decision to go ahead. All it took was one simple 'aha' moment to remember that the program could be launched as a contained pilot and the software features could be (I was sure they would be) suggestions from the users and prioritized by them. I made the decision to get started and I'm happy to say the program's well on its way and everything is falling into place as part of just getting it done - that includes the resources.

Soon after I'd made the decision, I ran across this post which delivered a virtual pat on the back validating the entrepreneur's need for quick decisions - and by implication, quick action. It is well known that the idea alone is not sufficient for a successful startup, it's the execution of the idea that counts - and execution is all about deciding and doing. As an entrepreneur remember you have a need, a need for speed!