I went to the University of Texas at Austin and studied computer engineering. I started coding because I enjoyed solving problems with code, and enjoyed watching my career take numerous paths within the technology domain. I had a long fifteen-year career at HomeAway prior to its acquisition, which was a great experience to have.
Even though I was in a tech role, I couldn’t really see myself starting a company. Numerous peers and mentors encouraged me to consider it, but I also experienced self-doubt. I think for a long time in my life, the biggest barrier I faced was myself. This period became the start of my entrepreneur journey, where I had to confront fears and recognize what drives startup success.
The Birth of ZenBusiness
In 2017, I co-founded ZenBusiness with Ross Buhrdorf, because we both believed that small businesses are the foundation of any economy, and they deserve tools and support to be successful.
ZenBusiness came to life as an all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs to help them do the basic, and necessary, things of running a business – complying with the law, legitimate and compliant, managing finances and taxes, forming an LLC (or similar legal entity), and building an operations framework that they can run their business on without fear and with confidence.
Our goal has always been to provide a stronger and more secure path for small businesses. For anyone wondering how to build a startup, this foundation was critical. Over time, we also studied business growth strategies and leaned on real stories of startup growth to keep evolving.
Leadership: What Matters Most
I’m guided by three principles in my leadership style.
Fearlessness. Perfection can never be the starting point. Waiting for everything to be “just right” is just going to slow you down; we learn by doing, we learn by getting out there and launching and then fine-tuning as we go. That mindset was vital in our own startup success.
Ethics. Being honest with ourselves, each other, and our customers can go a long way; and doing the right thing, even when no one else is looking, nurtures trust that lasts.
Passion. When you love the work, and you’re concerned about its impact, you can bring the energy to keep moving forward when times are tough.
The truth is, people are part of each and every strong company; the company may have a head office, but for employees, customers and the broader community, there can be no hierarchy in importance. These people-centered values are also part of the lessons from successful entrepreneurs who came before us.
Putting Values into Practice
Values have meaning only through observable behavior!
When the pandemic struck, our employees operated remotely immediately. After a while, we recognized that employees valued remote work. They had more time with family, less time commuting and could focus more effectively. We rode the wave of that transition.
We also gained access to tools such as personalized AI. One example is ZenBusiness Velo, built to assist customers with LLC formation and growth. Technology is not merely a means to those ends; it is about collapsing barriers and making the experience frictionless for our peoples entrepreneur journey. With innovations like these, we focused on scaling a company and learning how to scale a business effectively while staying true to our purpose.
Take Action Before You Wait Too Long
Beginning too late is what many would-be founders encounter. Planning, evaluating, and more planning are all important – but over-inquiring can become paralyzing. So start small. Even as a side project. Start by engaging with the people you want to serve, hear what they have to say, and keep that to shape your decision making. Expect to have to pivot based on what you learn along the way.
Each day is a new learning opportunity. The smallest pivots could mean the difference between being static and being sustainable. And sometimes “being sustainable,” is about surrounding yourself with like-minded, helpful people – supporters, collaborators, mentors, or even honest critique. Many of these pivots revealed the secrets behind building a billion dollar startup, something I could not have imagined when I first thought about how to build a startup.
Why It Is All About the People
The real power of any business, comes from its people, both internal and external. Create a team that you can trust, respect, and empower. That’s the true driver of startup success.
Take the time to listen to your customers, so that you understand their real needs. More often than not, what you think they need is not what they want.
Be transparent. When people feel their voice has been heard, morale is higher, loyalty increases and performance follows. That people-first thinking remains a core principle in business growth strategies and explains what drives startup success.
Final Takeaway
If I had to wrap up the entirety of what I believe into one statement, it would simply be: start before you are ready. Stay true to you. Treat people with respect and compassion. Infuse your doggedness, honesty, and curiosity into the mix. With that, the probability of startup success becomes even greater. The entrepreneur journey never ends; it’s about adapting, applying lessons from successful entrepreneurs, and continuing to learn.
And when you focus on people, values, and purpose, you discover the secrets behind building a billion dollar startup and exactly how to scale a business effectively. That is how we moved from an idea to real stories of startup growth, proving that scaling a company is possible with the right business growth strategies and clarity on what drives startup success.
Read Also: The Inspiring Story of Tony Xu, DoorDash Co-Founder and CEO
