Scaling up startups is like skiing
Now that we are in the middle of the winter season I wanted to recover an analogy I heard a while ago, where you can compare skiing skills with scaling up companies.
When you ski, it’s very easy to pick up speed. All you need to do is point your skis down the fall line, and voilà—you start hurtling downhill like crazy. The problem is that if you don’t have the necessary technique or skill, the most likely outcome once you accelerate is that you’ll end up breaking your neck.
Moreover, an inexperienced skier will tend to brake as soon as they pick up a little speed, out of fear of messing up the next turn, hitting an unexpected bump, or sliding on a treacherous patch of ice. As a result, novice skiers typically move as slowly as possible, avoiding the slope and barely making any progress.
Well, the same thing happens with a startup. Growing quickly—scaling sales, processes, technological releases—means pointing straight down the steepest slope at top speed.
And in Spain, there’s too much fear among entrepreneurs about facing the vertigo of speed. On the one hand, crashing can be very dangerous, and on the other, we lack the technique to tackle the challenges along the way. We don’t have enough coaches who can show them how to move fast and execute their plans without losing focus; we need more hands on operators in different business areas who can each assume their responsibilities and advance independently but in a coordinated way; and we need more investors who not only provide funding at scale but also contacts, methodology, and savvy, calm, support.
Engineering Leader | AI Enthusiast | Creator of The Engineering Leader Newsletter | Empowering Engineers & Leaders to Thrive
1 个月Great analogy! Finding that point of speed while keeping a moderate risk is the key.
SSS & Bulk Manager at Port de Barcelona and Co-Founder of YoungShip Spain
1 个月Very accurate comparison! Also, I'd add that conditions also play a key role... With deep powder, you can charge down steep slopes confidently, just like great mentors and advisors help you take sound or measured risks safely. But on pure ice, even a mild slope, a wrong move and you're out.. It’s not just about skill; it’s about having the right support to keep you on your feet ??
CEO LUDERNA
1 个月Miguel A. I absolutely love this analogy between skiing and scaling a company! It’s so true—here in Spain, we often seem more worried about not falling than about moving forward with determination. But what if we flipped the script? Skiing with style (or scaling successfully) isn’t just about speed; it’s about mastering the turns, anticipating the bumps, and, most importantly, enjoying the ride. The disruptive idea here is that, as a country, we need more “business ski schools”: mentors to teach us the technique, teams that work like a synchronized group of expert skiers, and, of course, investors who don’t just lend us the skis but show us how to sharpen them, too. Because yes, the fear of crashing is real, but what about the fear of getting stuck on the mediocrity chairlift? That should scare us even more. ???? Let’s dive in full speed and enjoy the downhill journey!