Comments on: Treat Each Obstacle, Setback or Challenge as if You Chose It to Happen http://blog.dogster.com/2008/04/04/treat-each-obstacle-setback-or-challenge-as-if-you-chose-it-to-happen/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:26:48 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ted Rheingold http://blog.dogster.com/2008/04/04/treat-each-obstacle-setback-or-challenge-as-if-you-chose-it-to-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-120538 Ted Rheingold Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:20:22 +0000 http://blog.dogster.com/2008/04/04/treat-each-obstacle-setback-or-challenge-as-if-you-chose-it-to-happen/#comment-120538 You know, another mistake I think start-ups make is they try and sweep the set-back under the rug. For months they talk about the big partnership deal in the works and then suddenly no one mentions it. The leadership mistakenly thinks they are the only ones who feel let down, but all employees who have been working hard to make it happen also need closure on it, or they'll care that much less the next time the company tries to fire everyone up. You know, another mistake I think start-ups make is they try and sweep the set-back under the rug. For months they talk about the big partnership deal in the works and then suddenly no one mentions it. The leadership mistakenly thinks they are the only ones who feel let down, but all employees who have been working hard to make it happen also need closure on it, or they’ll care that much less the next time the company tries to fire everyone up.

]]> By: Ted Rheingold http://blog.dogster.com/2008/04/04/treat-each-obstacle-setback-or-challenge-as-if-you-chose-it-to-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-120536 Ted Rheingold Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:07:46 +0000 http://blog.dogster.com/2008/04/04/treat-each-obstacle-setback-or-challenge-as-if-you-chose-it-to-happen/#comment-120536 Another reason to embrace the set-backs is that a start-up is an emotional roller coaster. One day your site is featured in Wired, the next you lose a key hire you've been trying to land. The only way I've found to deal with that is to not treat them as failures and jackpots, but simply as another day growing a company. And on a related topic, I noticed I've been catching myself from saying negative things out loud. For example, I'm checking sport scores and see the A's lost a crucial game. If I exclaim "SHIT!" I've got to explain myself to everyone in earshot or they could easily assume it was something company-related. As John warns above 'bad states of mind are contagious,' even if they are mistakenly surmised. Another reason to embrace the set-backs is that a start-up is an emotional roller coaster. One day your site is featured in Wired, the next you lose a key hire you’ve been trying to land. The only way I’ve found to deal with that is to not treat them as failures and jackpots, but simply as another day growing a company.

And on a related topic, I noticed I’ve been catching myself from saying negative things out loud. For example, I’m checking sport scores and see the A’s lost a crucial game. If I exclaim “SHIT!” I’ve got to explain myself to everyone in earshot or they could easily assume it was something company-related. As John warns above ‘bad states of mind are contagious,’ even if they are mistakenly surmised.

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