Debunking 2 common startup myths

Whether you're looking to open your own startup or work at somebody else's, just the name "startup" undoubtedly invites certain mental images. Crowds of 20- and 30-year-olds coding furiously, hang-out rooms stocked with ping pong tables and beers on tap, maybe even a dog or cat wandering the building as the office pet. But while these characteristics might be true of some startups, that certainly isn't the case for all of them, despite public perceptions to the contrary.

Courtesy of The Seattle Times, here are two prominent myths surrounding startup culture and the actual truth behind them:

MYTH: No work-life balance. 

TRUTH: Of course you're going to work hard, and sometimes this may require long hours and deviations from the typical nine-to-five schedule most offices are accustomed to. But that doesn't mean you'll be pouring your blood, sweat and tears into 80-hour work weeks, never sleeping or seeing home again. Which is not to say there aren't some startups that may adhere to the mantra, but that won't be the case for the majority of them either.

MYTH: Startups lack structure and emphasize chaos.

TRUTH: How structured a startup feels depends on how large the workforce is. In a 50-person team, for example, everyone will likely have their own specialized role to play and a unique niche to fill. In a smaller company of, say, five people, each employee has more responsibilities and, consequently, ever-shifting work duties. Being given more responsibility doesn't mean a company is unstructured or chaotic, just that you can be trusted with more to do.

Looking to try your entrepreneurial hand with a startup of your own? Make sure to have an esteemed small business attorney at your side who can protect your interests.

Categorised in: Starting a Business in Arizona

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