This isn’t an anti-entrepreneur rant. It’s also not a piece to discourage anyone from launching their own business. It’s a warning for those who seek to launch their startup to understand some of the lesser-discussed reasons why 99% of new businesses are Dead On Arrival.

As outlined, success is

1) subjective, relative and fluid:

i)                    we define success based on what drives us,

ii)                   but we tend to measure it relative to other people’s success and over time,

iii)                 we convince ourselves to change its definition, revising upwards or downwards, depending on the conditions on the ground.

2) a function of six variables: vision, ambition, determination, execution, timing and luck.

Part 1: Before You Launch Your Startup…

Sometimes, Macro Timing is Everything

Success is as common as an eclipse, the result of externalities lining up at the right time.  However....