Startup Syntax: When Everything Keeps Getting Worse… Keep Going.

Investor Liaison Hannah Savage talks "Team Grit" Cont.'d.

Subject: Inspiring, Visually Striking 4K Image: Powerful, well-built Pit Bull standing its ground, resolute and unyielding. Style: Contemporary Abstract Expressionism & Minimalism. Strength, Endurance, Unwavering Resolve, Depth. Aesthetic: Urban Resilience - Concrete Textures, Faint Graffiti Hints, Natural Elements suggesting survival and adaptation. Color Palette: Muted Tones from a Primary Palette (e.g., #4A4A4A, #707070, #A9A9A9) with accented Secondary Palette (e.g., #E0115F, #FF4500, #FFD700) to convey intensity and power. Time of Day: Overcast Day or Twilight, emphasizing the mood of quiet determination.

Friday

It's Friday again. Another week is in the books, as was the case last week. The core truth remains the same: If you didn’t quit this week and kept fighting, well done. Never underestimate the power of showing up.

Team

Last week, our team took some hits. This week? It took more and, in some ways, got worse. Two teammates’ sickness saga dragged on, and laryngitis was a fun new feature. Another awoke to the smell of a burning dryer. That’s right. A burning dryer. Well, OK, actually, per the technician, it was allegedly burning dryer ductwork, but still, the diagnosis was “wait a week” until someone finally has the time to fix it. Service at its best. Life at not its worst, but at least less dry.

And yet, drum roll please, when it came time for the Friday sync, without any coercion or real requirement, each team member rather unassumingly and unrelentingly showed up. As if showing up sick, tired and frustrated was normal.

Inevitable

Tough weeks are inevitable, and sometimes so are the even worse weeks that follow. Things are going to fall apart from time to time, and when they do, it’s even more important than ever to keep showing up and keep going. The point isn’t that people shouldn’t rest and recover when needed. The point isn’t some sort of extremism or unhealthy obsession with pain and suffering. This isn’t about irrational behavior or toxic teams or bad work cultures that don’t support appropriate time off.

The point is, finding a team of people that naturally opt to show up when and if possible, despite some bumps, is special. Showing up on the “ugly” days isn’t pretty, as perhaps one won’t be at their best not able to do their best work. However, those who survive truly extreme situations often push on when the situation looks very bleak, even hopeless. They simply won’t agree to quit easily. Sometimes surviving is the hardest part and also what matters the most.

To be clear, the team today met virtually via Zoom, so no wanton cross-contamination occurred, and one battered member admitted in a hoarse and raspy voice they wouldn’t have shown up in person. Which opens the way for another post someday about the power of working from home.

Lessons

Please remember you’re not alone. We face common problems. Humanizing the startup journey is important. It reminds us that AI may assist, but certainly hasn’t fixed all problems like getting sick and burning dryer vent.

Herein lies the opportunity for the gritty and determined. Those who make enduring and showing up a mantra may make for very special teams that will do very special things. Startups are about tough teams that face tough times together.

Here’s to conquering another week despite life. Here’s also to hoping next week will be more sun, more shine and dryer clothes. Even if it isn’t, let’s keep going.

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