The Ex-Corporate’s Guide to Surviving in a Startup
The Ex-Corporate’s Guide to Surviving in a Startup
Dear ex-corporates now in a startup, this might come as a shock.
You might have walked into your new startup role with a spring in your step and a resume that reads like a blockbuster. You might have a title that once made heads turn in (what I like to call) "Autumn" or "Winter" boardrooms. But here’s the unvarnished truth: in the wild, unpredictable world of startups, your accolades don’t mean jack.
The sooner you learn to kill your ego, the better off you'll be.
Boardroom vs Trenches
In startups, the rules you once lived by are counterintuitive. Where you once thrived on structure, hierarchy, and polished presentations, you’re now in a world that values usefulness, unexpectedness, responsiveness, and—above all—cultural resonance. These are the currencies that matter.
Startups don’t have time for bureaucracy. They don’t care about corporate titles or the paper that hangs on a wall. They care about solutions—quick, nimble, and practical ones.
If you’re still clinging to the old ways of doing things, insisting on processes that impress shareholders more than they solve customer problems, you’re missing the point. In this new world, what matters is utility — what you can do right now to make a tangible difference.
You’re not in a boardroom anymore; you’re in the trenches (or at least should be). And in the trenches, there's no room for your ego. Because that’s where unexpectedness thrives—the lifeblood of any startup that wants to break through the noise. Forget the ten-point plans and the meticulously curated PowerPoints.
Instead, ask yourself:
What can I do that will surprise our users?
What can I change today that will shake up the status quo?
Am I spending enough time with who I say I serve?
Responsiveness & Resonance
Now let's talk about responsiveness. The speed at which you adapt could mean the difference between success and failure. In the corporate world, decisions could take weeks or months, but in startups, indecision is death. You must respond to your environment—your users, your market, and even your team—as if your life depended on it.
Because in this game, it does.
Lastly, cultural resonance. This isn’t about diversity training or checking a box. It’s about creating an authentic connection with the very people who will decide if your startup flies or crashes. Do you speak their language? Do you understand their world? Do you resonate, or are you still echoing the sterile, disconnected voices of corporate past?
So, if you’re an ex-corporate stepping into a startup, take this as a wake-up call. Kill your ego. Focus on being useful, not impressive. Be unexpected, not predictable. Stay responsive, not rigid. And strive for 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 above all.
It’s not just about survival. It’s about thriving in a world where the only constant is change.
Welcome to the real game. Are you ready to play?
Dear ex-corporates now in a startup, this might come as a shock.
You might have walked into your new startup role with a spring in your step and a resume that reads like a blockbuster. You might have a title that once made heads turn in (what I like to call) "Autumn" or "Winter" boardrooms. But here’s the unvarnished truth: in the wild, unpredictable world of startups, your accolades don’t mean jack.
The sooner you learn to kill your ego, the better off you'll be.
Boardroom vs Trenches
In startups, the rules you once lived by are counterintuitive. Where you once thrived on structure, hierarchy, and polished presentations, you’re now in a world that values usefulness, unexpectedness, responsiveness, and—above all—cultural resonance. These are the currencies that matter.
Startups don’t have time for bureaucracy. They don’t care about corporate titles or the paper that hangs on a wall. They care about solutions—quick, nimble, and practical ones.
If you’re still clinging to the old ways of doing things, insisting on processes that impress shareholders more than they solve customer problems, you’re missing the point. In this new world, what matters is utility — what you can do right now to make a tangible difference.
You’re not in a boardroom anymore; you’re in the trenches (or at least should be). And in the trenches, there's no room for your ego. Because that’s where unexpectedness thrives—the lifeblood of any startup that wants to break through the noise. Forget the ten-point plans and the meticulously curated PowerPoints.
Instead, ask yourself:
What can I do that will surprise our users?
What can I change today that will shake up the status quo?
Am I spending enough time with who I say I serve?
Responsiveness & Resonance
Now let's talk about responsiveness. The speed at which you adapt could mean the difference between success and failure. In the corporate world, decisions could take weeks or months, but in startups, indecision is death. You must respond to your environment—your users, your market, and even your team—as if your life depended on it.
Because in this game, it does.
Lastly, cultural resonance. This isn’t about diversity training or checking a box. It’s about creating an authentic connection with the very people who will decide if your startup flies or crashes. Do you speak their language? Do you understand their world? Do you resonate, or are you still echoing the sterile, disconnected voices of corporate past?
So, if you’re an ex-corporate stepping into a startup, take this as a wake-up call. Kill your ego. Focus on being useful, not impressive. Be unexpected, not predictable. Stay responsive, not rigid. And strive for 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 above all.
It’s not just about survival. It’s about thriving in a world where the only constant is change.
Welcome to the real game. Are you ready to play?
