Fail Forward: 4 Mistakes I Made As A Startup Founder That Helped Me Grow

“It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure” --- Bill Gates

A quick search on Google will show you tons of blog posts on mistakes startup founders make and how to avoid them.

But wait a second. How many times have you heard "We learn from our mistakes"? As an entrepreneur, I've made tons of mistakes; especially my company was in the startup phase. And if my experience was any indication, not only did I learn from my mistakes, I learnt more from my failures than from my successes.

Then, why do we avoid mistakes at all costs? Call me weird, but I’d argue that mistakes can open our eyes to new perspectives or ideas we wouldn’t have thought of.

Looking back at my journey, if I were the same person today as I was when I founded Lumo Naturals, my business might be in trouble. Fortunately, I've learned a few new things about myself and what it means to be successful since then that have helped me grow as a founder and leader.

No one is perfect, and I've made lots of mistakes along my entrepreneurial journey. However, I’ve learnt to learn from those mistakes and not make those same mistakes again.

So, here are some mistakes I made during my company’s startup years that have shaped me to become a successful founder and leader.

1. I did more and managed less.

During the early days of startup life, I wanted to do all things. However, as my team began to increase, I knew that the “jack-of-all-trades” role had to mellow. The first thing I has to do was to change my mindset.

I began to understand that the members of my team were experts – and that was why I hired them in the first place. I understood that the major reason for hiring them was to help me achieve my business goals.

Today, I delegate tasks to the necessary people and focus on important things such as leading the vision for my company.

2. I hated giving up control.

When my company was young, I’d always get frustrated when I handed over a project to someone else; especially when I knew that I was better than the person.

Fast-forward to the present, I know that I can’t maintain that same level of control over every individual project if I wanted the company -- and my team -- to grow.

Now, when I hand over tasks to other people; instead of trying to show them how I want things done my way, I ask, "How can I help?  Do you have any questions you’d like to ask me to help you do the best job possible?" When I shifted my focus from the projects to the people doing them, I instantly became a more effective leader.

3. I stopped trying to win the hearts of all my team members.

When you establish a startup, the team you build from the scratch feels like family. You celebrate every wins and success together. You suffer from the failures together. The trials of that time inevitably create strong bonds within the group.

However, when a team of 5 becomes 50, the dynamic changes instantly. Your role automatically changes from the commander of a small platoon to the grand commander of an army.

Therefore, you shouldn’t expect the new staff you employ to establish a connection with you the day your original team did. Instead of trying to be everyone’s best friend, I’ve learnt to focus on treating them with respect instead.

4. I used to think that my company was all about ME. 

I’m sure that many of us can relate to this: “All those nights of thinking up business ideas, conducting market research, sharing your dreams with family and friends and using every penny of your savings to set up your business’” – of course, you’ll view your business as a baby. It’s a product of your sweat, tears, passion or dreams. So, it’s normal if you show an emotional attachment towards it.

However, while you are the head of your company, the earlier you realize that the company isn’t about you, the better for you. Yes, your leadership, vision, and attitude all matter, but they are a vehicle for others to do their best work -- not for you to take all the credit.

Reflecting on the mistakes I’ve made in the past, I’ve learnt that the best CEOs do not establish companies to “sit on the throne,” but to help their teams do their best and achieve the company’s overall goals.

Some of these lessons didn't come easy, but all of them have been vital to both my personal growth and my company’s growth.