Why Indian Founders Need To Share Their Stories

Founders in Silicon Valley are usually quite articulate about their experiences. They get interviewed all the time, which is why we learn a lot about what’s happening within these startups. It’s a mature ecosystem, and founders are happy to share both their highlights and their lowlights.

Unfortunately, Indian founders are still very reticent, and it’s very hard to figure out what’s happening within the company. They play with their cards close to their chest, and I’m not sure why they bottle up these secrets. Why aren’t they willing to be more open ? They don’t need to share proprietary information, but the truth is that a founder learns something new every single day, because he has to deal with multiple challenges. Sharing these learnings with others can be extremely helpful.

For one thing, it helps the founder to internalize the lesson, because once he’s written down everything he’s been through, the learning is deeply etched in his mind. It becomes part of his IP – his magic sauce! Writing down what the problem was; what the possible solutions could have been; why he chose a particular solution; and how it finally worked out (preferably in real-time ) , helps him to think through the options much more clearly. Not only does this allow him to analyse what he did and why, but it also allows him to speculate about what other paths he could have explored. This helps to seal the lessons in his mind , so that he becomes a much smarter founder the next time he ( or his team) needs to deal with a similar problem.

The right time to share these lessons is when they are still fresh in his mind. As time goes by, memories get distorted , and they fade. The founder is tempted to provide a more sanitized version of what the reality was, and this distorts the lessons.

I tell founders that they need to chronicle these war stories, not only in order to help other founders succeed, but also to establish a brand for themselves. Investors can see that you’re articulate, frank, have an opinion, and are courageous enough to share it. Also, these are great war stories you can share with your grand-children!

Founders are busy, and many don’t think this is a priority for them. They should do this for selfish reasons , because the best way to help yourself is to help others. Founders just need to be disciplined, and record their learnings every day, before going to bed, or while travelling back home. This helps their brain to review what transpired, and this technique will allow new solutions to bubble up from their subconscious when they are sleeping.

Note: The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views held by Inc42, its creators or employees. Inc42 is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by guest bloggers.

You have reached your limit of free stories
Become An Inc42 Plus Member

Become a Startup Insider in 2024 with Inc42 Plus. Join our exclusive community of 10,000+ founders, investors & operators and stay ahead in India’s startup & business economy.

2 YEAR PLAN
₹19999
₹7999
₹333/Month
Unlock 60% OFF
Cancel Anytime
1 YEAR PLAN
₹9999
₹4999
₹416/Month
Unlock 50% OFF
Cancel Anytime
Already A Member?
Discover Startups & Business Models

Unleash your potential by exploring unlimited articles, trackers, and playbooks. Identify the hottest startup deals, supercharge your innovation projects, and stay updated with expert curation.

Why Indian Founders Need To Share Their Stories-Inc42 Media
How-To’s on Starting & Scaling Up

Empower yourself with comprehensive playbooks, expert analysis, and invaluable insights. Learn to validate ideas, acquire customers, secure funding, and navigate the journey to startup success.

Why Indian Founders Need To Share Their Stories-Inc42 Media
Identify Trends & New Markets

Access 75+ in-depth reports on frontier industries. Gain exclusive market intelligence, understand market landscapes, and decode emerging trends to make informed decisions.

Why Indian Founders Need To Share Their Stories-Inc42 Media
Track & Decode the Investment Landscape

Stay ahead with startup and funding trackers. Analyse investment strategies, profile successful investors, and keep track of upcoming funds, accelerators, and more.

Why Indian Founders Need To Share Their Stories-Inc42 Media
Why Indian Founders Need To Share Their Stories-Inc42 Media
You’re in Good company