Sometimes I see founders who are about to start their new business torn between two options:
- Building in an area where they already have experience and a strong network, but no longer feel much passion
- Building in an area they’re deeply curious and passionate about, but have little to no experience in
Here’s how I think about it:
1/ The best scenario, of course, is to find an area where you have both the experience and passion. That’s the ultimate sweet spot, so keep searching for it
2/ But if you have to choose between the two: If you already have some success under your belt, follow your passion; If you don’t yet have a win, build in the area you know best
3/ Startups are all about maximizing your odds of success, and those odds go up dramatically when you’re working in a domain you understand deeply and can surround yourself with the best people in that industry
4/ That said, even if you stay in your familiar area, you still need at least some passion. If you actively hate the field or are sick and tired of it, you probably won’t last two weeks
5/ But what is passion, really? For founders, helping real users and solving their problems is often the best source of passion and purpose
6/ Lastly, whatever path you take, make sure there’s a common thread running through your founder career. Life is all about compounding, and you can’t compound in multiple directions. Even if you work on different projects, ask yourself: what’s the one thing you’re compounding over time?