How To Excel in Startup Company

Hello WU Learner!

Working in a startup company might be tricky. The culture are different than working in a corporate company. Less people and more workloads are their daily breakfast. In the mean time, they also have to keep up with their target and goals in order to improve and to extend. So here are the tips and tricks that you have to consider and apply in your work pattern or behavior, to excel in a startup company.

The following answers are provided by members of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, the YEC recently launched #StartupLab, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses via live video chats, an expert content library and email lessons.

Don't Focus on the Money

I find that the people moving up the quickest in the company are those who really believe in the product we're building, who don't mind working extra hours or jumping on a call on the weekend because they are so excited about what we are doing. The people asking about hourly rates and hours per week are the ones who lack the passion needed to succeed in the world of startups.

- Jessica Brondo, The Edge in College Prep

Get Buy-In

The success of a C-level employee hinges on buy-in from the entire team. Will they be able to trust and work with this person? Have team leads involved in each step of the interview process. Debrief regularly with everyone to hear their input and gauge their feelings. This will help accelerate finding someone who meshes well within the organization, and it will add to the established culture. - Justin Beck, PerBlue

Show You're in It for the Long Haul

Rome was not built in a day, nor is an executive spot earned in a week. If a potential hire is intent on becoming an executive quickly, he is not taking your company seriously. The best employees know the value of proving themselves over a period of extended time, and are willing to do so. Tell the new hire that the option is off the table until he proves himself worthy of an executive spot. - Ken Sundheim, KAS Placement

image: mashable.com

Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk

At the end of the day it's all about the RESULTS. CEOs and business owners despise when an employee with no results and lackluster performance asks for a raise. So create a plan, set performance deadlines for yourself, share it with the CEO, and ask him if you meet these goals, revenue numbers, or company metrics if he'd be open to a step up. - Chris Brisson, Call Loop & Automize

Always Think About the Next Play

The best executives are able to grasp the larger, more abstract state of the business. They are always looking to connect the dots of today's business with tomorrow's business. To stand out as an employee, aim to 1) better understand how what is being done today influences tomorrow, 2) the overall direction of the business and 3) the overall direction of the market you're currently in. - Kent Healy, The Uncommon Life

Learn to Sell

Seth Godin said it best: One of the most important things anyone working for a startup should master is the art of selling. If you can sell — and sell well — bringing new clients and building long-lasting client relationships for your company, you'll establish yourself as an invaluable asset. - Matt Cheuvront, Proof Branding

Two Small Words