Edward Lee’s Post

Why will this idea fail? When Steven Bartlett surveyed a 1,000 start-up founders, only 6% were clear on why their idea would fail, while 87% were clear on why it would succeed. According to Small Business Administration in the US: 👉52% was underestimate of resources needed for success 👉42% for not realising the market didn't desire their product 👉19% for underestimating the competition No one wants to kill the passion and energy that founders have when they put on their big Nike shoes and "Just Do It". But is it not a bad idea to step back and ask "Why will this idea fail" (Stephen Bartlett). First we need to avoid the bias (optimism, confirmation, self-serving, sunk-cost, groupthink). Even once past the early stage and into the growth phase, when you have product market fit and the founders have a more defined role you should ask why this might be a bad idea. People automatically assume that moving your successful product from your home market will work in larger markets overseas. The business gets stretched and starts to lose focus at a critical time. Timing may not be right to hit the ground running. At the same time the VC's backing you work with the Power Law. A very small percentage of their portfolio companies will do so well that they more than cover the losses of the companies that fail. They will also be focused on success. But sometimes by pausing and re-framing the question this may remove (or not) that nagging feeling that has kept you up at night. This is where you want people around you to brainstorm ideas to visualise the future and why it may not work. A (full time) CFO is much more likely to understand the nagging feelings through their involvement throughout the business and unearthing anomalies to trends. Asking the pre-emptive question to take action is better than the post mortem. If you are a founder or CEO facing these questions feel free to connect and let us have a chat to see how I can help.

Hey friends! It's been a while since I shared regular updates. Some context… The last few years have been a seismic shift personally: external changes mixed with an internal “down-to-the-studs” restructuring. I worked, but not as much. Amidst the deep dive, I got to reflect on how I (and frankly, all of us) can better swim in the rough seas of capitalism with the skyline of planetary stress in the background. As part of that work, I contemplated my path. From consultant to founder to CEO to acquirer of stuck startups, when I stripped away the egoic needs for identity, relevance, money, and inclusion, what was left? One idea: Everyone wins when we focus on human thriving.  I’ve seen firsthand that investments in helping employees and customers flourish create ripple effects on market position, sustainability, profitability, capitalism at large, and even the planet. This is especially true now. As systems take over much of the work, humans must operate at, well, our most human. We need to reimagine the *idea* of a company and the essence of a breakthrough company. What does this mean for me? I’m shifting from player to coach–helping others build leaner, faster, sustainable companies with the best people doing their best work. I’ll do this as a consultant, speaker, and coach, and, through the acquisition of promising companies that need restructuring to win (through Metamorph Partners). With that in mind, I have a fun announcement coming in the next couple days. Thanks for all of your support throughout the years. More soon!  With love, Dave

As a startup scales, it must not only maintain but also enhance the quality of its customer experience. Companies that double down on this not only solidify their market position but also foster long-term customer loyalty, which is crucial for sustainable growth. A strong focus on customer experience is a strategic advantage that helps a business grow, not just in size but also in reputation and reliability. #StartupScaling #BusinessGrowth #CustomerExperience

If you’re a start-up founder or CEO, you have a rapidly changing business filled with uncertainty, trial and error, and optimism. You’re constantly evolving to refine your product/service while engaging with investors, boards of directors and others within your business. Without a strategy, defined goals, and a plan to focus on your people and culture, you will find your business reacting instead of being proactive. It can feel chaotic and make it more challenging to grow and scale. Focusing on this later in your build journey has far-reaching implications and will be more difficult to untangle. Abnormal Logic is here to help. With our business transformation retainer packages, we help start-ups develop strategies, define goals, and position people and culture strategically in their businesses. Planning for your business future with the right partner will make you more confident in your business future. To get started, contact our team today!

Thoughts from our CEO: Scaling up is a journey full of challenges At present, we have grown to more than 170+ team members in Scale Experts. I'd like to share some insights that have been instrumental in our growth. Scaling up isn't just about expanding your operations; it's about doing it in a way that preserves your values and sustains your company's core. It's about ensuring that, as you grow, you don't lose sight of what makes your business unique and valuable. To give an example, let me share our story. When we were considering how to scale our services, it wasn't just about increasing our client base or offering more solutions. We had to strategize deeply about the processes we needed to put in place. For instance, when a team member provides a service, it's not as simple as quoting a rate or price right after the client asks for it. We recognized the importance of preparing comprehensively for proposals and ensuring the clear execution of services for our clients. That meant diving into the details, understanding our clients' needs inside out, and aligning our capabilities accordingly. In addition, we had to safeguard our team members. We couldn't let clients take advantage of them or compromise their well-being. This meant developing an organized set of processes to ensure that our team members' work environments were respectful, fair, and conducive to success. All of these considerations require processes—structured, well-defined steps that guide how we operate. Without these processes, scaling up would be like trying to build a skyscraper without a blueprint. It's the processes that ensure stability, consistency, and quality in every aspect of our business. I want to emphasize the importance of not just dreaming about growth, but also thinking strategically about how to achieve it. It's about finding that delicate balance between expansion and preservation, innovation and stability. Scaling up isn't an unprepared sprint; it's a well-thought-out marathon. And to run it successfully, you need effective processes in place. These processes become the backbone of your organization, the pillars that hold up your growth, and the safeguards that protect your values. Remember, it's not just about going big; it's about going big the right way, with the right processes in place.

Scaling up is a journey full of challenges At present, we have grown to more than 170+ team members in Scale Experts. I'd like to share some insights that have been instrumental in our growth. Scaling up isn't just about expanding your operations; it's about doing it in a way that preserves your values and sustains your company's core. It's about ensuring that, as you grow, you don't lose sight of what makes your business unique and valuable. To give an example, let me share our story. When we were considering how to scale our services, it wasn't just about increasing our client base or offering more solutions. We had to strategize deeply about the processes we needed to put in place. For instance, when a team member provides a service, it's not as simple as quoting a rate or price right after the client asks for it. We recognized the importance of preparing comprehensively for proposals and ensuring the clear execution of services for our clients. That meant diving into the details, understanding our clients' needs inside out, and aligning our capabilities accordingly. In addition, we had to safeguard our team members. We couldn't let clients take advantage of them or compromise their well-being. This meant developing an organized set of processes to ensure that our team members' work environments were respectful, fair, and conducive to success. All of these considerations require processes—structured, well-defined steps that guide how we operate. Without these processes, scaling up would be like trying to build a skyscraper without a blueprint. It's the processes that ensure stability, consistency, and quality in every aspect of our business. I want to emphasize the importance of not just dreaming about growth, but also thinking strategically about how to achieve it. It's about finding that delicate balance between expansion and preservation, innovation and stability. Scaling up isn't an unprepared sprint; it's a well-thought-out marathon. And to run it successfully, you need effective processes in place. These processes become the backbone of your organization, the pillars that hold up your growth, and the safeguards that protect your values. Remember, it's not just about going big; it's about going big the right way, with the right processes in place.

What is scaling? It's a term that gets thrown around in the startup and VC world, almost like a badge of honor, but what does it really mean? Scaling a business is more than just increasing revenues. It's about building operational efficiencies, creating an empowered organizational culture, and strategically planning for growth. It doesn't happen overnight. It's a process of trial and error. Of taking one step forward and sometimes two steps back. Of learning from your failures and celebrating your successes. In the end, it all comes down to creating a sustainable model that allows your business to grow and thrive without putting 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 on your resources or team.

Founders: Is funding the only growth path? Absolutely not! Founders often wrestle with the funding question. Here's a quick breakdown: Bootstrapping Magic: 🪄 - Maintain control & ownership. - Resourceful & scrappy - fosters creativity. - Ideal for testing & validating initial ideas. Funding Fuel: - Accelerates growth & scales operations. - Attracts top talent & resources. - Perfect for capital-intensive industries. So, when to raise? ✅ Hitting a Growth Ceiling: Revenue's good, but organic growth slows. ✅ Market Opportunity: Capitalize on a fast-growing market. ✅ Strategic Acquisition: Funding fuels strategic purchases. ✅ Product Development: Needs significant investment for R&D. Remember: Funding is a tool, not a magic bullet. Focus on a strong business model & a compelling pitch. What are your thoughts? Share your experiences in the comments! #founderlife #funding #bootstrapping #growthhacking

I'm deeply committed to assisting businesses in their growth journey, and one key element often overlooked is a clear 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧. While speed is essential, it must be backed by a robust operational framework and thoughtful decision-making processes. Some less apparent factors to consider include Shared Values, which shape how companies tackle challenges, the importance of Structuring Roles to support growth effectively, and Defining Scope by focusing on the most promising internal and external opportunities. How about you? Have you integrated a Scaling Plan into your strategy sessions to ensure comprehensive and sustainable growth with your team? Here are six areas founders should focus on when building their company. #BusinessGrowth #ScalingStrategy #OperationalExcellence

🌱 Understanding the Nuances of Business Growth and Scaling 🌱 In today's business world, everyone wants their company to get bigger and better. But what's the real difference between growing and scaling up? Let's take a closer look at what sets these two apart and what it means for businesses trying to succeed. 📈 Growth vs Scaling: The Basics ✅Growing means getting more resources to make more money, a company adds new resources (capital, people, or technology), while scaling up means making more money without needing a ton of extra resources. 🚀 Challenges Encountered during Scaleup ✅When a company is just starting to get big, it can be hard to keep the good stuff from the early days, like the company spirit and the way everyone works together. ✅Getting too big too fast can cause problems, especially when trying to expand globally. 🔑 Vital Components for Successful Scaling ✅Making sure everyone still feels like they're part of the same team even as the company gets bigger. ✅Letting go of doing every little thing yourself and trusting other people to handle it. 🌟 Nurturing Growth and Seamless Transition ✅Keeping the good things about your company as you get bigger. ✅Making sure everyone knows what they're supposed to be doing and how things should be done even when you're not there. Understanding these differences and challenges can help businesses make smart choices as they get bigger. By keeping the good stuff and letting go of control, companies can grow without losing what makes them special.