Idiotopedia: Games of Telling Bullsh*t!

A couple of days ago, I met several startups, and they were sharing their stories, well; interestingly enough (somehow by chance), I knew the background of their stories, but I kept myself silent to listen to what they said, and amazingly.... it was a big lie. Still, I don't want to be offensive, and I keep myself a good listener. Everyone is already aware of these common stories about why people tell a lie with their stories; well, it happened to me as well, although I don't think I crossed other people's life (disclaimer LOL), nor do that often. Thus, this article is a simple sharing and personal opinion to remind me and others that be honest with ourselves and always positive in life.?

Anyway, it's easy for entrepreneurs to lie to themselves at the best of times. However, it could be better to do so when we're starting. I have always found the phrase "flat to deceive" slightly offensive. It's a lazy sports commentary cliché used to describe how a team plays, and it's very accurate. Anyone who's ever been an entrepreneur or founder knows how to do this easily. The initial stages of a project are all about making a good first impression. This is why we must always appear promising even if the results aren't good enough. Right?

Based on my experiences (but again, this is a personal case and might not be applied to all people), many entrepreneurs often tell lies to introduce themselves to others. There are many reasons why people enjoy lying to themselves, such as fear, failure, or nonacceptance of failure. They may want to keep their morale high, or they may just be because they can. Well, early warning signs that a startup might need a pivot may be merely minor technical issues, and the founders believe they can weather the storm. But then, maybe they recently quit their day job to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. They're so excited about their new project that they're 100% sure it will be successful. Don't get me wrong; many startup founders have little white lies to tell regarding their lives. But unfortunately, even though some may thrive on these, the outcome can be catastrophic.

I also noticed that many people must realize that being true to themselves is a lifelong goal. Some may not care, while others may not realize it. Staying true to ourselves is the first step toward attaining inner fulfillment. Yeah, wise people said (perhaps even our parents)

that the rewards can be enormous if we are true to ourselves and our customers. However, if we are not, the results can be (potentially) disastrous. In addition to losing clients and friends, the failure of our business can also affect our professional and personal life. But I still believe that many entrepreneurs are known to bend the truth when telling their own stories. In fact, there are some common lies that most people would do well to avoid. One of the most exciting parts of being an entrepreneur is sitting at their desk and clearly understanding how the product will bring in revenue and customers. This is usually the first step in building a successful business. While one of the first points of failure for entrepreneurs is lying to themselves. Being confident that their product or idea will be successful is one of the most typical lies they tell themselves.

Again, it's OK to dream big, but instead of dreaming big, successful founders and entrepreneurs are focusing on how they can improve their products and make them more cost-effective. This is referred to as product development efficiency, which involves figuring out how to make the most of the available resources. And we can avoid disappointment by being honest and prepared for the struggle. Being dedicated to our work is also a must.

Let me share several thoughts based on my experiences; this is regarding the other points of the success/failure category, and somehow, we simply need to accept the reality;

• Believe me; nobody can't do everything themselves. Having the help of other experts is very important to achieve success. This is because they can provide us with the necessary knowledge and experience to succeed.
• Even though it's important to work harder, it's also not enough. It would help if we learned how to use startup automation to get the most out of our work (yes, this article is not using chatGPT OK?).
• For a digital startup, the right product will not attract people. They need to be demonstrated how it will benefit them and how it will make their lives easier. They also have to be informed about its value and be able to afford it.
• Getting the initial funding round is not necessary to guarantee our success. It can be a disaster and make us focus on the wrong things. We might end up burning money that we don't have anymore, and the growth that we expected might not happen. This is because we didn't have a clear plan for using the funds. And yes, this situation is happening for most "instant-noddle" startups.
• Please don't assume we don't have to promote our business. Even if our goal is to make a living from it, we still need to invest in it. Many entrepreneurs who don't value the importance of marketing will still fail.
• As a forever student, books are very important, especially when learning about entrepreneurship. Somehow, they can help me realize my goals and overcome obstacles based on sharing expert opinions.?

Anyway, from all the above cases, I realized that the concept of work-life balance is self-explanatory. Most of us are familiar with the lies people tell about our lives at work. Setting out on our own is like stepping into a new world and experiencing new challenges. We can recognize these as excuses and begin managing our life better. In reality, there are many things that entrepreneurs need to consider when it comes to dealing with common lies, but the power they have is within them. The battle is first with themselves and then with their competition. Instead of being too promising, try to avoid making false claims that can ultimately hurt ourselves.

But wait....

Let me do my reflection, my brain constantly lies to me, and I have to be constantly aware of what's happening around me. The good news is I can use this knowledge to tell my stories. Yes, storytelling is a powerful way to get people to act. It can help them make a purchase decision, become a hired individual, or even visit a landing page. Our brain is made up of stories and processes information in a way that makes sense to us. For instance, I remember the part where my head got stuck when I wrote my books. But I also recall other parts of the story. So again, our brains are wired for stories. They are capable of bringing order to chaos, and they create a structure out of our experiences. Memory does not fade as it gets scrambled, augmented, or reconstituted. Unlike a computer's hard drive, the brain does not store information in many places. Instead, it stores facts in the hippocampus. Every time we recall something, the brain writes it down again and then re-processes it. Hopefully, mine still be functioning well until I am fully retired.

Some time ago, I met my friend, a seasoned VC fund manager, who said that entrepreneurs could not be successful if they didn't know how to twist facts seriously. And I have talked to several founders about lying, and most of them are against it in theory. However, most practice it at some point, especially regarding marketing and branding. They believe they must twist or exaggerate the truth to gain a competitive advantage.

Is it ethical for entrepreneurs to twist the truth to make their startups more successful? If so, should we teach them how to do it or hold them to the same standards as public companies? For example, I worked with a startup founder who was raising his first venture capital investment. Before the deal closed, the customer, who was a multinational corporation, suddenly withdrew from the deal. I told him to tell his investors about the money, but he did it at the first board meeting. I don't know how he did it, but I wonder if I was naive. As a result, the startup has grown significantly and is solid for another round of funding.

In another sample case, I worked with an entrepreneur who used language to describe new products in a way that made it seem like they were already installed and tested. Many people initially took this as a sign that the product was already being developed, but some were outraged to learn that the specifications were fictitious. Eventually, the startup became well-known in the community and decided to go into serious fundraising *sweat!*.

I noticed many entrepreneurs make false forecasts about their sales and expect investors to penalize them if they fail to "play the game." For instance, one successful founder noted that his initial sales estimate needed to be revised by about 50% due to his lack of knowledge about the market. He then adjusted his numbers to reflect the expectations of the investors. Amazing right??

Another interesting fact is that one of my friends who worked for a startup for EV in Indonesia told me that her management had adopted the "don't ask, don't tell" approach. He doesn't give bribes, but he claims that it's the way some countries work. He also structured the pricing of his products so that distributors would have enough margin to make "facilitation payments." Is that wrong?

Furthermore, when my friends and I started X company in 2020, we told the public that we had completed many projects and that they were successful. Over time, however, we proved that we were not as successful as we claimed. It was a relief to admit that we were finally lying and that we could stop being so strict about it. At first, we were tempted to keep our marketing efforts ahead of the truth, but we eventually decided that it was necessary to be strict about it.?

Wondering, is lying acceptable if we are committed to stopping when we can?

I don't know the right answer, but I believe entrepreneurial lying is prevalent. This is especially true when it comes to marketing and raising capital. Unfortunately, I haven't seen much discussion about this in the real world or academia. Any thoughts on this?

OK, let's continue; traditionally, businesses have tried to appeal to the left side or "left brain" regarding persuasion. However, I noticed that the new competitive advantage is the right side of the mind. This

Anyway, rather than list everything to do, I'll explain some things I have experienced in my entrepreneurship and investments journey;

• One of the most important principles of storytelling is to tell the story in a way that lets our audience come to their conclusions. Instead of convincing them to do something, try to make them feel like they're already making their own decisions. This allows us to connect with our audience and provide them with the necessary information to make informed decisions. Furthermore, please share a story in a way that allows our audience to visualize the setting and the protagonist's struggle. Also, describe the events in the scene as if they were happening now. Simply don't tell the old lady to scream. Instead, let her do it. Another simple thing is the business website's identity; go to the "About Us" section and check if the information is pure data or has been used to show the founder's personality. Simple things do matter!
• I often get tired of hearing about endless press releases and presentations that contain nonsense words such as platform, synergy, collaboration, and paradigm. When designing ideas, I tend to sound like I have no idea what's happening around me. Once, I read a book about Steve Jobs that emphasizes simplicity is well-known. It's also important to remember that it's the product that fits our customers that matters most.
• Unless we're planning on telling the story of how to land a plane safely and how to assemble a LEGO miniature, avoid the urge to start at the very beginning. Chronology doesn't matter much as how our story will eventually follow an interesting path. In my experience, before I start working on my story, imagine that the elements of it are modules. This will allow me to open the story up to a new perspective. Try to connect with the audience by engaging the senses and then going back in time to experience the contrast. So, although the story might end with the product, we're asking people to buy, it should still be able to tell the story of how we got to where we are today.
• There will always be moments of failure in businesses, especially startups. But there are also opportunities to shine through when a mistake is made, and the story is told responsibly and understandably. This is because customers are more likely to stick with a brand that has a good apology. Rather than having a straight line to success, engaging stories should focus on the doubts and concerns that keep readers engaged. For instance, if Superman were to win every fight, no one would pay attention to him. So instead, please focus on the obstacles that prevent him from achieving his goals. Moreover, incorporating doubt or vulnerability into a story creates authenticity and helps build empathy.
• The overall story should be authentic. A fake story can provoke a backlash. Instead, make stories a part of our culture, and all-hand meetings can play a vital role. Stories can be used to connect with our team and reveal how a company is performing. They can also help make people feel good about themselves. Leaders can do this by being honest, humble, and transparent. Storytelling can be a powerful tool for connecting with our team and increasing their commitment to the company. It can also be used to start a staff meeting, where we ask everyone to share their oddest experiences since the last time they met. For instance, if a customer had a story about being surprised by a new product, or if a hater had become a believer, ask them to share it.
• Unfortunately, many companies have a monopoly on the story they can tell, and they're not taking advantage of social media opportunities. Because of this, they cannot connect with their customers and employees. This is why we must recognize the value of stories from internal and external sources—design ways to collect them and enable our employees to be effective storytellers. One of the most effective ways to create a story bank is by allowing employees and customers to write and submit their own stories. This will allow people to easily find the stories they're looking for and also help them connect with the writers.

Anyway, from the above cases, the truth about business lies, and people tend to believe it repeatedly. This is because they are used to hearing it and start to believe it even without looking into it. So, we often tell lies about the business world. It's like a religion that follows rituals and rules that are not observed in the outside world. For instance, people who live in the real world put their babies to bed and cook dinner.?

Let me share a simple story; I learned these during my early days as a fresh graduate in an expensive office building in the central business district. I was proud of myself for taking the time to learn the script. Every day, there was something new to learn about how to behave properly in the office. I quickly learned how to pitch in during my interview for a job. Unfortunately, I also bought into a set of unexamined beliefs and principles. Learning to play a character through the scripts helped me better understand myself. Regardless of modern businesses' shortcomings, they are still worthy of being. People have been working on things for a long time now. There's nothing new about it. The only thing that needs to be fixed is the structure of the business. We have a deep-rooted culture that allows us to believe that broken equipment is normal. This is also why people don't tend to change the system that's served them so well.??

Well, I want to share a realistic?business lies?that are toughened in daily life:

• Numbers don't lie, as people can be unpredictable and changeable.
• Our boss is our superior because they have more capabilities and intelligence than we do. Business is rational. There is no place for feelings in discussing the company's operations.
• Job descriptions that are flexible and can accommodate an individual's needs are the best.
• An analysis is responsible and precise. Motivating subordinates through rewards and penalties is done through carrots and sticks.
• Our pole will determine how influential we will be in the organization.?
• It is also right to reward shareholders with higher returns than other good things, such as preserving the business's environment and employees' health.?
• The goal of business is to make money. We're wasting time if we're not focused on making more money.?
• If we have a poor job or boss, we are just employees stuck with it.

As an investment professional, this question has been asked many times. Is this topic important, or is it just a business-related one? Somehow, many people are unsure how their paid work can help them grow as individuals or how it can help their businesses flourish. As they become fearful, more people will learn how to use these business lies. This will allow them to avoid questioning or thinking. It can be hard to question strongly held beliefs, as they can be easily put to rest without thinking about them.

The business lies above are the software components of the business cycle scheme. Most organizations have a hierarchy and rules-through-control structure, making information flow faster. Generally, truth-telling involves taking a personal risk when losing one's status. Unfortunately, this approach tends to result in out-of-touch, fear-driven, and bloated organizations. The logic in the business cycle machine has software and hardware that convinces people to check their personalities and brains at the door in exchange for money. Employees also make deals with their employers. For instance, they promise to be whomever their boss wants them to be when they start working for them, and they also promise not to exert too much pressure once they return home.

The people making the deal say their job sucks, so they have no choice but to do it. They won't consider the deal they made with their employer or the one they are making with themselves. They prefer to blame their boss for being a jerk instead.

In closing this article, honesty and transparency are very important in business transactions. Doing so can help us secure the best possible deals and avoid damaging our reputations. Well, the foundation of trust is honesty. When customers and investors see that we are not being honest, they may not be willing to do business with us. Or, if we are dishonest, it can quickly damage our standing and prevent potential customers or investors from coming to us, right? Being dishonest can also hurt our business in the long run. However, we build a stronger foundation for sustainable success by being transparent and honest. Being honest and transparent is very important for any business to succeed. Although it may be hard to do so in some situations, it is still the best policy. In addition, doing so will help boost our company's reputation and attract more investors and customers. Therefore, enjoy the journey of our business life, not lies.... and let the truth set us free!

Stay healthy, happy, and sane!