My hot take: Your target market is wrong, your timeline is wrong, and you’re setting yourself up for heartbreak and failure.
![Entrepreneur's Handbook](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:48:48/1*8sfeJBcpkpaPmv9Epi2Pjw.png)
In case you weren’t aware, most entrepreneurs and investors alike would agree that today, the economy looks bleak. Easy funding for far-from-profitable startups went from a sure thing to a pipe dream, while many former startup investors have decided to protect their money with safer cash-flowing investments and those backed by collateral that can’t go to zero. I’d know, as I’m one of them. But before you click away, assuming I’m going to harp on some macroeconomic market update, let me offer a little secret few of those investors would ever reveal: None of that matters to the great entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow.
No, I’m not suggesting that interest rates, a recession, and massive cross-industry disruption with new technology (like AI) putting jobs at risk and companies out of business is a non-event. I am, however, suggesting that great entrepreneurs aren’t going to allow today’s investor behavior or macroeconomic environment to dictate their runway, their marketing plan, or whether or not they continue to pursue their current venture.
Why? Simple: Great entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow — the ones building companies to last — aren’t thinking like investors. They know exactly what they’re pursuing, why, and who they aim to please, and no, it isn’t a panel of time-sensitive investors with minimum ROI and growth rate requirements on every deal they consider.
Here’s where you’re going wrong if you’re a founder thinking like a VC in today’s environment and exactly why it’s the fast track to surefire failure and disappointment.
If you’re banging your head against a wall, asking yourself why investors won’t respond to your countless follow-up emails, let me stop you right there: You’re probably wasting your time.
Quick sales tip: Successful sales isn’t about twisting arms and convincing hard-to-get prospects to buy your thing, take your deal, or give you funding. Successful sales…