Well, it usually starts in a pretty casual way. Like a few uni mates, a decent idea, late-night chats about how it could actually work. And during university, it’s a side thing, just something small, maybe not too serious. Besides, you’ve got classes, grades, deadlines, all of that still comes first. But the idea sticks, of course, like, there’s real potential. Then graduation rolls around. And yeah, at this point, well, that little idea basically turns into a full-on startup.
Sure, needless to say, it’s exciting, but of course, something like this is absolutely overwhelming too. Especially given the fact that no one involved has ever actually worked in an office before, unless it was a short internship. But at the same time, it makes sense, like, it’s hard to land a job, so might as well create your own job, right?
When Does the Business Stop Feeling Like a Student Project?
It’s a weird question, but it’s a fair one, mainly due to the fact that if you didn’t take it all too seriously in uni, well, do you just magically take it seriously the second you graduate? But yeah, at first, working from a bedroom or kitchen table feels fine. Like, it’s familiar, it’s cheap, and honestly, it’s what most people do. Laptops open, coffee on repeat, group chats buzzing all day. It works, kind of.
But with all of that said here, things change quickly once the business starts needing more focus. How? Well, client calls pop up more often, meaning that there needs to be a quiet meeting place, maybe looking into offices for rent, maybe commuting to the office happens next, work starts bleeding into every tiny aspect of your life, basically, you breathe, eat, and sleep deadlines, that’s it.
But You Lack Office Skills?
Well, like what was stated earlier, the idea of starting/ launching a startup after graduation immediately sounds amazing, it’s impressive, it shows you and your friends are total go-getters. Yeah, sure, that’s great and all. But the problem is the lack of real work experience, lack of corporate experience; you don’t learn those in school. To a degree, maybe an internship, but not everyone even gets those skills there, either.
But When’s the Moment Things Start Feeling More Serious?
There’s usually a moment when a startup stops feeling casual. Like clients expect quicker replies, well, that and meetings need to look organised. And of course, collaboration needs space. Besides, perception starts to matter more than people expect. Again, like as was mentioned, you need an office. Sure, cafes are fine sometimes, everyone working from home can be okay sometimes, but not for talking to clients, not for meeting up with clients.
But the office part is the biggest shift from what most new graduates realize. Sure, some businesses thrive just fine with everyone literally being remote, but don’t just assume your startup can be like that.
The Office You Choose Needs a Lot of Thought
Which should be obvious, but with startups, well, it’s always about cutting corners and saving as much money as humanly possible. But you can’t always do that, of course. Sometimes you need to make a real investment, and the main one is the office. So, is that something you and your team are actually willing to do?
Featured photo: by Helena Lopes
