⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

10 Guiding Principles for Growing a Startup Into a Business That Will Last Nurturing a business requires a tolerance for uncertainty and an endless willingness to adapt to circumstances beyond your control.

By Anthony Scaramucci

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

A decade ago, I was busy earning my daily bread at one of the oldest and largest financial institutions in the world; commuting in and out of the city each day with my newspaper and large iced coffee, 12 hours later to return home all the while thinking how I could switch things up.

It was a job that many would be excited to go to everyday but I really felt differently. I wasn't happy and I felt stifled by all of the bureaucracy. I dreamt of doing more and building something on my own, so off I went to start SkyBridge Capital.

When I shared my new plans with my daughter, who was the 9 years old, she sat there judging and said: "Hey, Dad, are you crazy? Why would you leave Lehman Brothers? They're a real company and SkyBridge is just a PowerPoint presentation that you put together. You're nuts."

Well, 10 years and a host of big challenges and small triumphs later, SkyBridge's investment arm has grown steadily, our annual SALT conference is still in full swing bringing 1,800 participants together each May in Las Vegas and our media affiliate is about to re-launch one of the most nostalgia-provoking names in financial television – "Wall Street Week."

Oddly enough, Lehman Brothers is no longer a pillar or mainstay on Wall Street. The 2008 financial crisis put them out of business. It happened to them, and I know that it could have happened to anybody. In fact, it was close to happening to us.

Related: Lehman Makes Its Stand

I am the first to tell you that all of this did not come to be without many missteps or failures along the way. There were many days, especially during the post-2008 crisis, when we didn't know if our small company would survive. Much of our success and frankly, any entrepreneur's success, is mainly providential. Through this journey I have learned many invaluable lessons, some of them unexpected. Here are 10 things I would want to know if I was starting my business today:

1. Brand matters.

Your brand is your most valuable asset. Period. It expresses who you and your customers are. You have to work on it every day. Trust. Solid Performance. Innovation. Fun. Make it simple. Sure, starting a venture involves countless hurdles – from raising capital, recruiting a team, winning business, solving production problems, and the like. But you don't have a business without a strong brand that forms genuine relationships with any of the three critical Cs: consumers, customers and clients.

Related: The 3 Steps to Building a Winning Brand Strategy

2. Don't go into business purely for the money.

Huh? That's why entrepreneurs launch ventures, right? Go into business to create something. Money shouldn't be the main motivator because that goal alone can prove excruciatingly frustrating, especially in the early going. And it won't justify the vigor and grit required. Start a business because you're passionate about your idea and the value you believe you can create. Be a missionary, not a mercenary.

3. Be adaptable.

In 2005, we had a plan. That plan failed. We came up with another plan and that plan failed, too. We finally got things right on plan three. Be ready for that. Building a business requires patience. It isn't just going to take off on day one. There are likely to be many bumps in the road, but the most successful leaders are the ones who are willing to adapt and embrace change along the way.

4. Team and culture are everything.

That's why it's essential to spend time picking the top managers who will epitomize the culture you seek to develop. Culture is critical because if yours motivates your employees (your best asset), it will lead to satisfied employees and customers. The culture has to make people feel that they are working towards something bigger than themselves.

Related: Building a Culture and Teams for the Long Haul

5. Never stop evolving.

The way we communicate and interact today is way different than 10 years ago and it will be different again in another 10 years. Go back to school or take executive education courses, keep current. This is a Mach-4 world of speed – especially in business, technology and the marketplace – and if you stop to rest, a rival or a new entrant can pass you by. Be a long-term thinker, even, as you grapple with one startup hurdle after another. It is critical to being an entrepreneur.

6. Operate with integrity.

Just make doing the right thing a daily habit. No matter what, I would rather fail or shut down our business than operate without integrity. The clients will feel it and so will your co-workers. Operating with integrity puts everyone at ease.

7. Embrace failure.

Ugh, we hate that word. But when you dream big –- and that's what entrepreneurs do –- you're bound to stumble. Don't let failure consume you, in fact make it work for you. Expect it, and don't be self-conscious about it. Simply remember the familiar tune that adventurers hear when they falter: Pick yourself up, brush yourself off and start all over again.

Related: Don't Just Embrace Failure -- Learn How to Manage It

8. Grasp what's happening in the Capital.

Both Washington, D.C. and your state capital. We don't just mean politics. Our global economy triggers constant change that affects every business owner, whether the change reflects competitive, regulatory, economic or societal conditions. These forces can reveal themselves at the local, state and federal level. Take time to stay current with what's happening on the executive, legislative and judicial fronts. It matters.

9. Don't care what others think of you.

Unless you're a masochist. Sure, you must consider your stakeholders, whether they're your investors, employees or customers. But, remember, each of them has an agenda and that often can clash with your own objectives and mission.

While the "nice guys finish last" idiom (blame Brooklyn Dodger manager Leo Durocher for it) isn't really all that true, entrepreneurs must not steer from the mission and principles that sparked their venture. Don't heed the naysayers -- stay on mission.

10. Have fun.

That means seeing the humor in everything and learning to laugh hardest at yourself. Dream big and make sure the people on the journey with you also know how to get the joke. If you can really figure this part out, the last laugh will be yours.

Related: 5 Inexpensive Ways to Create a Company Culture Like Google's

Anthony Scaramucci

Founder and Co-Managing Partner of SkyBridge Capital

Anthony Scaramucci is founder and co-managing partner of SkyBridge Capital, a global investment management firm with approximately $13 billion in assets under management and advisement. He is also the new host of a revamped “Wall Street Week,” the once iconic financial television show hosted by the late Louis Rukeyser. The new show will air on local stations in key markets across country starting on April 19. @Scaramucci @WallStreetWeek

 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

Costco CFO Reveals Uncertain Fate of $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

CFO Richard Galanti reveals that the price will stay the same — but only "for a while."

Business News

The Most Unexpectedly Popular Side Hustle of the Decade Has Low Startup Costs and High Markups

A new report shows that vending machines are a popular investment — and the industry is set to grow up to $3 billion by 2031.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.