We have a pretty bold mission. We want to be transformational and catalytic. We want to be a part of leading change in the world. We are solving a problem and meeting a need that we care about deeply. Wait, let us refine that a bit. We care in the sense that if we don’t solve it daily, we go home restless. We couldn’t let it go–we couldn’t trust it to someone else. We weren’t satisfied with the way the problem was being solved and the solutions that other companies were offering, or intended to offer. That’s what has driven us for going on two years with this effort.
How do you know whether or not you care about the problem you’re working on? Here’s our litmus test in part:
1. First, define the problem you’re solving in reasonably broad terms.
2. Then, answer yes or no to this: If the problem was somehow magically “solved” (to your satisfaction), but you weren’t the one that solved it, would you be fine with it?
We have always said, “If one day we wake up and learn that somehow the problem has been magically solved — even if it was by a competitor, we are fine with that.” Honestly, we would probably be a little miffed that they had beaten us, but still OK. As long as they really solved it. We could have stopped toiling away the sleepless nights working on that particular problem and we would have found other problems to work on.
The concept here is: You care enough about a problem that you don’t necessarily mind if someone else solves it. What really frustrates us entrepreneurs is when competitors win, but they don’t actually solve the problem.
One way to explain this concept better is to look at an extreme example. Lets say the problem you were working on was curing cancer. Of course, you’d be passionate about finding a cure. You’d be working hard. It’s an important problem, and it’s not surprising that you care. Now, imagine if you woke up one day to learn that someone else had created a cure. You’d be glad that the problem was solved — even though it wasn’t you that solved it. Sure, it would have been great to get the fame and glory, but that surely wouldn’t cause you to wish the other scientists/researchers/doctors ill. Nope. You’d wish them well. Why? Because fundamentally, you care about having the problem solved.
Now, if someone else ends up doing it, and winds up delivering on our mission, well, then, more power to them. We care enough about the problem that we don’t mind if someone else solves it. That’s why we truly wish our “competitors” well. But know, just because we wish them well doesn’t mean we’re going to make it easy for them. After all, like you, we are entrepreneurs and as such, fair but fiercely competitive.
Summary: When possible, work on really big problems. They’re more fun, and it’s easier to get excited. But, even if you’re not working on a really big problem, it’s OK, as long as you at least care enough about the problem you are solving that you don’t care who solves it. You just want it solved.
If this appeals to where you are…please join us. We are live in April and there is plenty of problem for all of us to work on together here.
