What Type Of Person Thrives In Startups According To A Co-Founder And Managing Partner At Auxo Partners
Connor, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Auxo Partners, highlights the importance of being a "self-starter" who is willing to "jump in and learn new things" in the startup world, where roles are undefined and impact is amplified. Success in sales, particularly within startups, requires empathy and the ability to adapt messaging based on learning from past conversations.
Hard work ethic, Self-starter, Adaptability, Empathy, Resilience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Connor Frischmeyer
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Auxo Partners
University of Iowa 2016
N/A
Finance
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Hard work and willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done are essential for success in startups.
2. Self-starters who can identify tasks and take initiative are highly valued.
3. Empathy and the ability to learn from setbacks and adjust strategies are crucial, especially in sales and startups.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
I think it depends on what frame you're talking about. Within startups, the people who thrive are those willing to work really hard and do whatever it takes to get the job done and move the company forward.
Roles are often not well-defined, and there are many things that need to be done with limited staff. You have to be willing to jump in and learn new things to make progress. Self-starters are also crucial.
Someone who figures out what needs to be done and then does it, reporting back to the team for course correction, is ideal. The hardest and most important thing is just getting started.
This is quite different from roles in larger companies where the impact of mistakes or decisions is amplified. In a startup, while the company's overall impact is small, your individual impact on the company or your specific area is much larger.
In sales, someone willing and able to deal with people, who has a lot of empathy, and who can learn from unsuccessful conversations to adjust their messaging, is really important, particularly in startups.