At 5:30 PM on my last day of W2 employment, I wrapped up a final few emails, said a couple last goodbyes and closed my laptop. Then, I sat and stared at two blank monitors for a few moments.
“What am I doing?” I thought. “I can’t start a company. Most startups fail. The numbers don’t lie. What makes me think I’ve got what it takes to beat those odds? This isn’t going to work…”
The thoughts rolled around in head for a few minutes. My mood sunk. I second guessed myself. Instead of being excited, I was scared. I stood up, walked away from my desk, and went downstairs to be with my family for the evening.
As I reach the bottom of the stairs, my wife greeted me with a big smile and excitedly shouted at me, “You made it! You took the first step! You’re starting your own business! I’m so proud of you! To celebrate, I got you a surprise!” Out of the closet, she pulled out a custom silk-screened Masset T-Shirt.
“This is for you. The kids and I all got these to let you know we support you.” She told that she believed and me, and that she backed me. “No matter what happens, we’ll make it work.” Later that evening, family and friends came over to celebrate starting my new adventure. They all wore new Masset shirts too.
The change in me was profound. My confidence jumped. I could do this. It would all work out. And if it didn’t, that was totally okay too.
At this point in the startup community, the advice around having support systems is cliche and, honestly, maybe even a bit trite. I won’t bother adding to it, but I will reenforce it. If you’re going to start a business, find a way to have a support system in place. Something that will help you on bad days and celebrate your good days. It’s not about safety nets, it’s often simple enough just to be reminded that people are rooting for you.
Support can come from a number of places. For some, it’s family. For others, friends are their lifeline. On the business side of things, Co-Founders are recommended for a reason. And your investors believed in you enough to put finances on the line. Need more? Local or religious (if you’re into that) communities abound. For me, it is a combination of all of the above.
These supporters are the true unsung heroes of the startup world. Without their backing, I truly believe the stats on startup failures would be even more staggering.
I’ve worn that Masset shirt a few times in the last month. But I think I’m going to stop soon. A little wear and tear is fine, but I want it preserved. Ten years down the road, when Masset is wildly successful, I want it framed on my wall. Hopefully it will remind me of who got me there. Who knows what future Tyler will have learned, but I hope he will remember what that shirt stands for. If he is anywhere, it’s because the village around him got him there.