What do Airline seats and your business have in common ? If you are a startup, which seat are you in ?

I was in 12C in an Airbus A320 , the other day . I was thinking of a co-relation with Business!

First Row ( window seat) - Need to book early and pay for it too. You have so much leg space and relax. Window view. Premium seat. You can disembark first. 

Entrepreneur : Startup with good idea, plan well and invest. Premium segment in the market. Enough leg space due to first mover advantage. Watch out what is happening outside. Get funded. Exit early. 

Middle seats : Middle seats are the most hated seats in the airlines. You did not do web check in and let the airlines allot one of the few left over seats! Squeezed between two people on either side! If your fate is bad you get both A & C guys poking you with their elbows. If you are strong, you can poke both A & C with your elbows. If you are in middle seat one row before emergency exit row, you do not even have reclining !

Entrepreneur: Started with out planning. Your idea was to just start. Then you realise you have too much competition squeezing your market from left to right and right to left. You have no leg space to even cut your costs. You can not move back and relax! Get aggressive and poke competition hard so that they either be within their limits or you expand by going into their area!

Emergency row : Only frequent flyers know about the advantage of Emergency row. Good leg space. Premium seats. Corporate users grab them or people who can afford a bit more too avail these! Sometimes if flight is not full, you can move to those seats and enjoy. Must be willing to operate Emergency door to help others!

Entrepreneur: Only people willing to take risk and responsibility and with some experience, know what to start and how to position yourself. You plan your resources well. Get funded. Sometimes if the market is untapped ( flight not full), you can still move into this! The best place to be in. Exit option is close to you.

Window Seats : Nice view. But longer duration flights, it could be inconvenient as you need to disturb others to move around.

Entrepreneur: You can have a great view of the outside World. If you are self sufficient and do not need to depend on others, you can focus on your business and enjoy. You need co-operation and help of others.

Aisle seats : Convenient and no need to request others to get up and go to toilet. You are a free man.

Entrepreneur: You are independent. Do what you want when you want. No need to trouble any one! Something like One man show!

Last row : These are easily the worst seats. Particularly window and middle seat. No reclining adds to your misery.

Entrepreneur: Unplanned and let yourself into such a position where you are squeezed from all sides and no room to move around !

Business Class : Premium seats , pampering service and extra benefits.

Entrepreneur: You are established and funded. You earned it ! And others are jealous of you. Enjoy ! You can exit before others can!

Remember, even the best emergency window seat too has some disadvantage as the elbow resting is a pain! 

Which seat are you in? And where you want to sit. Plan it well.