Start from Zero - Dane Maxwell
This book was a different kind of business book from those I have reviewed in the past. I believe the lessons taught are just as valuable in business as those found in previously reviews. This is really a different take on leadership and it focuses on the realm of ownership and being an entrepreneur (I cannot spell that word without help).
In many businesses, the tendency is view the “expert” as a great candidate to be the next leader of his or her team. Most leadership books that I endorse will convey the idea that being the expert and being a leader are two separate sets of skills. An expert is a great technical or procedural expert but that does not make them a strong leader of people. To be a significant leader of people, it is helpful to have a technical aptitude. However, a notable difference is shared in the quote from Theodore Roosevelt, “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
In this book, the reader is encouraged to step even further away from being the technical expert or being competent with a technical aptitude, and suggests taking on the mindset of an owner. Dane Maxwell, walks the reader through making this adjustment in how to think about earning money for yourself, your family, your dreams, and your desire to help others.
There are many ideas and thoughts shared in this book, which I plan to put into practice over the coming years. A key element here is to keep moving forward even when failures occur. Dane is not encouraging the reader to keep a failed business idea alive even when there is no chance of success. He is conveying that as an entrepreneur, you should be prepared that your first try at starting a business is not likely to succeed. A key idea is to “fail fast” and learn from that failure, ensuring the same failure is not repeated.
One key aspect that was not explicitly described, but implied, is that once a business is launched and reaches a certain level of success, it is time to let someone who knows how to lead that business be in charge. In other words, find a CEO to take over that business. Dane does not advocate giving up majority ownership, rather find a competent leader who will help you make sure that business can grow.
I have seen and read about a number of business that struggle with “Founder’s Syndrome” (aka foundersitis). One thing that can be the outcome of Founders Syndrome is that the business cannot grow beyond the founder’s ability to control daily operations. A founder can become so invested in the idea that they are the technical expert, business expert, marketing expert, and/or sales expert that it ends up stifling growth beyond a count of 100 - 150 employees. Ironically, a study of military history will also show that starting in the early 20th Century we have progressively learned that a field commander struggles with oversight an excess of 150 troupes within their command. In both business and our military we have learned that our front-line leaders (team leads, fire team leaders, etc.) are the most effective at helping to gain success and significance within their teams. With the instruction provided in Start From Zero, handing the reigns over to a CEO once a business grows beyond your ability to lead it, is a great idea.
I would highly recommend this book. The tools taught will take time to implement and practice before one should expect entrepreneurial success. Dane shows that we really can start from zero and build a business.