The Success Formula

I have made 4 startups in my life. 2 worked, 2 failed. I was also a part of about a dozen more in different ways and saw about the same rate of success and failure. After some mature thinking, I finally got a clear and sure formula for success from this experience.

It's not easy, not sure, not magic, not 3 simple steps, and it needs all your power and skills. But it's real, like everything I write about. This may make some people angry. Well, my job is to tell the truth about how things work. And you can feel however you want. So, here’s the formula for success:?

1. People must need or want something so much that they will pay for it. Real people! Indeed! For sure! And not just what you think or imagine in the shower. Yeah, it’s not just being creative + lucky. Solid proven reality.

2. You know this need or want very well and in detail. It would be good to crave it yourself too, feel it and want to make it. But even then, you need to research, check, ask, learn and study the market, including other solutions. For many, this is very boring and makes them not want to do anything. That's great: don't waste your time, energy and money for nothing.

3. You know what and how to do to meet this need / solve the problem / take away the pain. Definitely in a way that people believe in and don't get bored, but want to try it. Not only the result should be good, but also the process. And this is hard. Everything that is real and works is not easy, cheap, or fast. But what's easy, cheap and fast doesn't work. What do we do with that? I have no idea! You should probably try lying like everyone else on the market.

4. You also know exactly how to show this, get people's attention, and make them think they should come to you. In other words, marketing. Another thing that might stop your spirit from flying high. This is hard work, math, costs, tests, disappointments and making a sales plan. Where, how and who to sell your products and services to, if the market is really an old fair with noise and shouting and sellers who have more money for advertising than you? I DON'T KNOW. The main thing is not to believe anyone who promises to do everything for you. Nobody knows anything. Everyone just tries. Some people sometimes succeed.

5. You have enough willpower to do it all until the end. You don't burn out, don't give up, don't get distracted, don't switch to something else. Maybe this is the main point. People who are successful with money and power are not always smart, clever or strong. But they are very stubborn. I would even say pushy. They don't give up at all, they don't take "no" for an answer. Either you are like that or not. And nothing can change that, this is how you are born.

6. You are interested in it yourself, you like it, and it works out for you. This is often the reason for having enough willpower. Maybe the thing itself is interesting, which is great. But much more important is the money and the result, as well as the process. If you live from weekend to weekend, you can forget about it. Your success is a way of life 24/7. Again, either this is you or not. And it’s unbeatable.

I wrote all this because the modern magic narrative says the opposite:

1. Do what you like

2. Be good at that

3. People will love it

No way! Maybe you'll just get lucky and everything will match, but what are the odds? Almost like in a casino. Investors don't buy this. Give them accurate numbers, some guarantees, MVP, a business model, and at least some small progress. If doing all this carefully and in detail is your thing then go ahead. If not, I warned you!

Author - Andrey Yagodzinsky, the therapist