A Fortune 50 exit: 11 critical business skills I learned leaping to a startup

I thought I signed up for more work, more problems, and less assurances. What I really got was invaluable experience and critical skills, and I'm just getting started.

Let's rewind the clock two years, to the casual outside observer it'd be hard to assail my lifestyle and career choices. Living in downtown Austin with a bustling social scene and great cohort of friends, working in a lavish tech skyscraper alongside fantastic co-workers, and a very comfortable overall quality of life.

I had no reason to change anything, yet I was compelled to do exactly that.

Why would I do this?

The truth is, like many I don't ultimately draw satisfaction from a comfortable lifestyle or maintaining the status quo. A common thread in my life, I grew unfulfilled and restless with the challenges of the past and was hungry for more.

That hunger could only be satiated through pursuit of the future, the next skill to master, next problem to solve, and especially the next level of personal development. I had grown comfortable in my role and my personal growth was plateauing.

Making the leap.

It's easier to do this in theory than in practice. But I made the call, left the comfort of terra firma behind, burned the boats and waded into the waters of uncertainty with nothing but my drive, intellect, and collection of experiences.

Once I did I found only the bright skies and beautiful landscape of opportunity and risk joined at the hip, I was at home.

The cover photo above is from a trip to Zermatt I took last June. It perfectly encapsulates the way I felt in that moment; facing only the Matterhorn, determined to summit yet unsure of exactly how, perhaps not fully appreciating the task, and yet elated at the harrowing journey ahead.

All that was left was to find my trail and start walking.

Was it worth it? 11 critical skills everyone needs and why.

To be clear, I'm far closer to the beginning of this path than I am reaching the summit. Yet after only 18 months at a small startup I feel like I've received a masters in entrepreneurship helping a business on the path from zero to one.

As I continue on this journey, I want to share the lessons I have learned and the insights I have gained. Each month, I will be sharing my thoughts on various skills, best practices, and tools that are critical to building a successful organization. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a business leader, or simply someone who is looking to grow and develop, I hope you will find these insights valuable and inspiring.

What's Next? Agenda:

1. A Fortune 50 Exit: 11 critical business skills I learned leaping to a startup
2. If the Shoe Fits: The first step to defining your future
3. Culture?- Don't mail it in, the critical foundation to unlocking potential
4. Building the right team?- Traits vs experience, the biggest mistakes to avoid, recruiting hacks, & the right questions to ask
5. Decision making & communication?- Disrupting your industry with speed & innovation at every level of your organization
6. Adaptability?& Resiliency?- Races are won in the turns, not the straightaways
7. Rhythm of the business?- The connective tissue between your strategy and day-to-day
8. Finances?- Margins matter, discipline is key, & frugality is your friend
9. Customer Satisfaction?- The advantage small firms have
10. Personal growth?- Don't waste your time being comfortable, the alternative is way more fun and will bring you more success
11. Feedback?- It has many forms, which ones you might be missing, and making sense of it all to your advantage
12. Storytelling and keeping a long-term vision?- Getting your investors, teams, and quarterly goals on the same page