Importance of Discipline for Startup Founders

Science says, "Transition is the most unstable state"

You should be able to correlate it so easily with any real-time life examples as well. Every time when you're going to a new School/ College, Job, City or any dam change, initial days are not that easy.

Starting up a new venture, it's a big change. Startup Founders go through many ups and downs during this phase. In fact, many founders quit during the early stage only.

I recall my journey, after leaving my multinational job where I used to be significantly busy, all of a sudden I was not having any work at all, no phone calls no meetings.

When you don't have any work, it's very important to engage yourself in productive things. That not only keeps you busy but also keeps you away from any kind of depression as well. Also, it helps you to get some work. Right discipline plays an important role in it.

Here is how we were keeping ourselves engaged.

We had a small office. Even though we were not having any project any work, but I and my other Co-Founder Mr. @Irayya Madli, always use to reach the office on time somewhere around 10:00 AM or so in a formal kind of attire.

Since there was nothing to do and no deadlines, we use to start our day by cleaning the office. It involves dusting the desks and computers and sweeping and mopping the place. And, twice a week cleaning the washrooms (all this takes 30-45 mins). Then I use to do pooja for 5 minutes and lit dhoop (incense sticks). That fragrance keeps the surroundings fresh and charged.

We were having a basic kitchen setup to prepare some tea and coffee, I only use to prepare tea twice a day. Ultimately "India runs on chai" I love the slogan and sounds true only.

Actual work begins now. The biggest challenge was to get some projects and we were not having any idea about this. But, without wasting much time we preferred to get into the Trial and Error stage, where we started reaching people, pitching our experiences and connecting people.

Somewhere around 2:30 PM or so used to be our lunch hours. Mostly we get Home Cooked Food (that saves money), but once in a while, we used to go for South Indian Meal. I love South Indian food especially Sambhar, Rasam and Idli etc.

Post-lunch hour activities were including Sending Emails, Making Cold Calls (difficult but most interesting) and we use to travel to any of the corners of the city to meet people if someone giving the time. These activities helped us to learn the basics of Marketing & Sales (still a lot more to learn).

And Yeah, once in a week or so I use to have a beer in the country bars. Bengaluru is an awesome place with regards to country bars where you get a beer in just 10-15 bucks extra with a seating space. Country bars are a little noisy and you've to share your table with other fellow drinkers, but it was fun.

That's it! That's how the early days were.

I feel the right discipline has a key role in building a Successful Startup. Hope early-stage founder should find it useful.