The Entrepreneur Insider network is an online community where the most thoughtful and influential people in America’s startup scene contribute answers to timely questions about entrepreneurship and careers. Today’s answer to the question “What’s something you wish you knew before starting your business?” Is written by Diana Murakhovskaya and Irene Ryabaya, cofounders of Monarq.
Coming from the cutthroat world of finance and making the leap to the startup world was initially a scary proposition for us. Our favorite quote since starting Monarq, our business focused on connecting women through technology, is from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “At the moment of commitment the entire universe conspires to assist you.”
Building a company from nothing is an exceedingly difficult thing to do. You will be working yourself to the bone without anyone telling you that you must do so, meaning you need to be insanely driven and passionate about what you’re building. In any job where you have a boss and structure, there is someone to drive you and tell you what the next steps and measures of success are. Making the leap and leaving that safety net can be terrifying, leaving many people to wait for the “perfect” idea or the “perfect” partner to come along.
But when we committed to building connections for women with Monarq, we received an amazing outpouring of support from a lot of great people. We realized that when you start a business, two things often happen: You start to see more holes in the world and come up with dozens of ideas for other businesses, and you’re likely to turn these into side businesses that often become even bigger and more successful than the initial thing you set out to do. That commitment to your initial mission can create opportunities for connections and serendipity that take you to the next level.
See also: The Painful Truth About Starting a Business
While building your business, you’ll have to fill an insane variety of roles. Until you’re in the thick of it, it can be difficult to understand the value and depth of those roles in the success of your company. There is no way you can learn this until you get started. One stark example for us was the value of design. We admit now that we took user experience design for granted because of our analytical background and thought that building a great app was all about the actual app development. We quickly learned that there are many aspects to design—from visual to digital to user experience—and that all of them are integral to the long-term success of any business. You have to design everything, from all of your email communications to ads to event banners, as well as your website and app.
A key component to success is to “know enough to be dangerous” about all aspects of your business, be able to have meaningful conversations, and make quick decisions with everyone who works for you. That being said, you shouldn’t always try to get things perfect or under-appreciate the value of a good specialist.
So don’t wait for perfection. Commit and the world will rise up to support you.
Read all responses to the Entrepreneur Insider question: What’s something you wish you knew before starting your business?
This Should Be Your No. 1 Focus When Starting a Business by Christy Johnson, founder of Artemis connection.
The Easy Way to Stop Wasting so Much Time by Greg Sewitz, cofounder of Exo.
The Real Reason so Many Businesses Fail by Catherine Bell, co founder of BluEra.
Here’s How to Know Your Business Is Headed for Disaster by Andrew Ackerman, managing director of Dreamit New York.
Here’s Why You’re so Discouraged With Your Career by Simon Berg, CEO of Ceros.
Doing This for an Hour Each Day Can Make You More Successful by Dennis O’Donnell, cofounder of PAW5 and Clear-Coat.
Why This Entrepreneur Doesn’t Regret Leaving His Successful Business by Chris Boehner, founder and CEO of Western Natural Foods.
The Most Important Thing You Can Do Before Starting a Business by Josh Reeves, cofounder and CEO of Gusto.
The Important Business Lesson Too Many Leaders Ignore by Aidan Fitzpatrick, founder and CEO of Reincubate.
What Google and Richard Branson Can Teach Us About Success by Alexander Goldstein, founder and CEO of Eligo Energy.
Here’s Why You Should Start Working Less by Erik Severinghaus, founder and CEO of SimpleRelevance.
The Dangerous Mistake Too Many Leaders Make by Fayez Mohamood, cofounder and CEO of Bluecore.
The Biggest Challenge Every Entrepreneur Faces by Jeff Ruby, founder and CEO of Newtopia.
Here’s What Happens When Your Company Only Focuses on Data by Allison Berliner, founder and CEO of Cataluv.
What Every Entrepreneur Should Be More Prepared for by Feris Rifai, cofounder and CEO of Bay Dynamics.
Why Virtual Offices Don’t Work by William Vanderbloemen, founder and CEO of Vanderbloemen Search Group.
The One Quality That Defines a Great Entrepreneur by Anthony Katz, founder of Hyperice.
What Every Entrepreneur Can Learn From Apple by Michael Maven, founder of Carter & Kingsley.
