Running A Startup As A Traditional Business

I've been running my startup as a traditional business for years, and here are the rules I live by:

• Bootstrapping > Fundraising

  Relying on our own revenue to grow the business, instead of living on borrowed time.

• Cash flow > Burn rate

  Spending less than we earn, ensuring we're not sitting on a ticking bomb.

• Satisfaction > Growth

  Measuring success by the quality of the service we provide, rather than how fast we acquire new customers.

• Slow > Fast

  Prioritizing thoughtful decision-making over the rush to scale, ensuring we build solid foundations.

• Hire only when it hurts

  Growing the team only when absolutely necessary, making sure every role is essential and every resource is fully utilized.

This might not sound sexy, but chasing sexy almost put us out of business.

What about you? Are you doing business or playing startups?