In May of this year Brad Feld, Managing Partner of the Foundry Group, wrote about successful entrepreneurs having “A complete and total obsession with the product.” No argument here, however I think we need to take that a step further and warn against blind love of your business. Obsession in business means focus, energy, commitment, and with the best of the obsessed, objectivity. Blind love means never having to say you’re sorry for the last product revision.
It was the famous 17th century mathematician, philosopher, and inventor of the first calculator, Blaise Pascal, who wrote, “The heart has its reason which reason knows not.” By scrupulously analyzing your business, constantly looking for ways to make it better, and rejecting the applications or ideas that don’t work, your chance for success goes up exponentially. But if your reason is impaired by your love for the business, you may be in for a broken heart. How many inspired entrepreneurs lost their company because they couldn’t see what had to be done, or couldn’t bring themselves to do it?
Be obsessed with your business, and make sure your deepest emotional commitment is to your customers, investors, and fellow employees.
