Accelerator Blog

Reflecting on my 10-year Journey

I still vividly recollect walking into the Accelerator building 10 years ago to start my new career and standing in the entrance wondering how it will all unfold.

When I started there were only half dozen companies in the building, there was no clear long term business model for the Accelerator, and I had to begin my education about business incubators and entrepreneurial ecosystems from scratch.

Commandment 5 - Always Hustle

As Gary Vee aptly states, “without hustle, your talent will only get you so far”. During my 10+ years working with hundreds of startups it has become very apparent who is not going to make it. It is those who may have great talent or a great idea, but do not have the patience and passion to see it through to the end. They do not respect the hustle. The true winners in any field, be it sports or business, are always looking to achieve more. Think of Ronaldo in soccer, Steph Curry in basketball, and Sarah Blakely and Elon Musk in business, they never stop.

“Good things happen to those who hustle.” – Anais Nin

MasterClass with Sara Blakely: Part 1

Sara has built a multibillion-dollar business by trying, analyzing outcomes, and learning from the results.

New entrepreneurs will take away at least one concept from Sara that is actionable and will help grow their business in a sustainable way. Resist the urge to say that because you are not in the apparel industry or because you provide a service her MasterClass isn’t for you.

Commandment 4: Respect All

The Oxford Dictionary defines Respect as follows: "A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements."

The more time I spend working with entrepreneurs, the more I come to appreciate and respect the drive and determination required to build a successful company.

 

Commandment 3: Give to Get

He who serves the most reaps the most.”
– Jim Rohn

Giving is the key to manifesting our greatest aspirations. When we start giving we state our intention to create positive change. There are many reasons why giving is good for us: it makes us feel happy, it’s good for our health, and it promotes gratitude and cooperation.

Commandment 2: Be Genuine

If you are going to be anything, be genuine. This is an important life principle and absolutely mandatory to be truly successful in business.

Business is all about relationships. To build long-lasting relationships you have to build your social capital. You have to earn people’s trust and respect and the best way to do that is to be genuine.

“Be genuine. Be remarkable. Be worth connecting to.”
–Seth Godin

Commandment 1: Don’t Waste Time – Yours or Others

“Time is the most valuable thing a person can spend.” - Theophrastus

Time is the most important resource available to all of us. As such, how we use our time will play a critical role in the outcomes we create. If we use our time poorly, we will have poor outcomes and inversely, if we use our time wisely, we will have positive outcomes.

The Accelerator’s Entrepreneurial ‘10 Commandments’

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It takes focus, determination and a will to do things, go places and make sacrifices that others will not.

The 10 Commandments of Entrepreneurship were created one night in San Francisco when seasoned entrepreneurs reflected on their experiences.