From Startup to Scaleup: Strategies from the Field

Exercise has always been an integral part of my life, serving as a means to maintain both physical and mental wellbeing. I like to complement indoor gym workouts with outdoor exercise, leading me to engage in military fitness training for many years now.

These training sessions are rooted in military heritage and methods, taking place in outdoor settings such as public parks, regardless of weather conditions, and have become a cornerstone of my healthy lifestyle.?

Interestingly, the principles ingrained in this form of training have also proven strikingly applicable to my endeavours within the realm of Superscript , once a tech startup, now a scaleup.

So, what insights can startups glean from the world of military fitness training as they scale?

Plan and prepare?meticulously

Every training session is different while encompassing common elements such as physical readiness, strength, anaerobic and aerobic capacity, speed, power, and recovery. This carefully planned, well-structured approach enables you to reach optimal heart rates for effective calorie burn during and post-workout.

How to apply this in a scaling startup environment:?

In the startup arena, success stems from diligent planning. There's no room for improvisation. From launching a new product feature or producing an advertising campaign, it’s important to take the time to plan for success and develop contingency plans too, like they do in the army. This doesn't negate agility; it’s about meticulously planning all the activities required to achieve your desired goals and leaving little room for error.

Use available resources inventively

Military-style outdoor workouts necessitate resourcefulness. Occasionally, basic tools like ropes or tyres may be used, serving multiple functions. But in the main, sessions are run without cumbersome equipment, with participants leveraging body weight, partner support, as well as obstacles and natural elements such as hills, trees and fences.

How to apply this in a scaling startup environment:?

Resources are scarce in a startup environment. Team members don multiple hats and have to learn to acquire new skills. Necessity breeds creativity; a lean team encourages innovative utilisation of available resources, spanning from customer feedback to marketing strategies that don't break the bank. And as funding improves, it’s important to remain frugal as the business expands to protect and grow the bottom line.

Trust your teammates

Military fitness thrives on team dynamics. Trust among peers is pivotal for overcoming challenges, evident in paired or group exercises. From fireman carries to tug of war and piggyback squats, trusting partners proves indispensable alongside technical proficiency. Teams that don’t trust each other most often fail to achieve the desired task.

How to apply this in a scaling startup environment:?

Startups mirror this principle. Small teams with grand visions require alignment and trust. If your teammates aren’t aligned behind these goals, and if you can’t trust them to do their best to achieve these, things will fall apart. Building trust, gaining trust can take time; but it’s an essential part of business success. So managers must thrive to build a culture of trust, and ensure the right people are hired and the right behaviours are promoted to foster it.

Develop grit

Advanced military fitness training pushes boundaries with intense sessions demanding resilience. This holds true even in harsh weather conditions, where mental tenacity plays a critical role. Endurance in these scenarios starts with overcoming the inertia of comfort and stepping out into the mud, the cold and the wet, whether for a long leopard crawl or endless military press-ups.

How to apply this in a scaling startup environment:?

This is similar in startup ventures. The stimulating startup landscape demands grit. While it's exciting and gratifying, success is hard-fought. Scarce resources lead to setbacks, experimentation, and learning from failures. Unexpected market or competitive movements might completely disrupt your plans. So progress relies on the courage to rebound, and persistence.

Always be your best

Years of military-style training have substantially enhanced my fitness levels, at a accelerated rate compared to my prior gym-only years. This transformation stems from a training philosophy rooted in constant self-improvement. A desire to surpass personal bests drives this pursuit, facilitated by teamwork and mutual encouragement.

How to apply this in a scaling startup environment:?

Startups share this pursuit of excellence. Amidst competition from established brands and fellow startups, pushing boundaries becomes essential. Each day invites introspection: "Have I given my best?" Such a mindset propels startups to transcend conventional limits and attain unprecedented success.

In conclusion

Ultimately, the lessons drawn from military fitness training transcend the physical realm. Mindset, mental fortitude, and an adaptable approach stand as equals to ingenious concepts and technical skills. Just as rigorous training forges resilient individuals, these insights shape resilient startups poised for great achievements.

Mai Fenton has over 20 years’ experience in marketing across consumer goods, retail and ecommerce, lifestyle and technology. She is passionate about brand building, digital marketing and data-informed strategies that deliver profitable growth.

Mai is currently Chief Marketing Officer at Superscript, a high-growth insurance technology scale-up where she is responsible for all aspects of their brand, digital and partnerships marketing. Mai is also a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Henderson International Income Trust plc.

Updated September 2023 - first published February 2021