Lessons from game of chess
Chess is an age old game and creates a highly competitive situations for the individuals. Many lessons from chess game are quite apt to run a startup, here are few that I can think about
Experience does make a difference: Your startup may be new, but the experience of founders does matter a lot. Experienced members know how to avoid mistakes. Mistakes can be costly especially when you have just started. Experienced team members also know how to fix even if the mistakes are made
First and fast moves takes the lion share: White moves the first in chess and one who controls the center of the board has maximum chances. The startup that are able to identify the gaps in the market and create a niche for themselves have a better chance to garner high market share in small time
Never play for a draw: If a startup is aiming for some market share, then it will only achieve pennies. Startup should aim big and plan to execute in small but fast steps
Planning is about failure: In the game chess player makes the what if scenario in their mind. If I move the horse, how the other player will move. The execution planning at the startups is all about the planning to tackle with execution, there must always be plan B ready to tackle with eventualities
More prominence gives more power: This is similar to capturing center of the board for tactical advantage in chess. Startups that are more read and are more in the press are loved more and adopted fast. Creating an affable cycle of being used more and create more revenues makes chances of success better
Some time market moves are just not logical: In chess, there may be time when the moves of competition may look very outlandish like sacrificing high-value pieces, but the player may have moved with long term plans. Startups need to keep long term in mind and sometimes sacrifice low dangling fruits to be a major force in their own game
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