Success Cannot Be Pursued, It Must Ensue

The title of this post is inspired by a quote from one of my favorite books: Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning. Frankl, a Viennese psychiatrist, tells us his remarkable story of survival from the death camps of Nazi Germany. The book also lays out his personal approach to psychotherapy, which he developed as a direct result of his experiences during the Holocaust. Reflecting on his time in the camps, Frankl wondered why so many of his fellow prisoners simply gave up and succumbed to despair, while the few who remained were able to overcome disease, starvation and horrors beyond description. He realized, in nearly all cases, that the survivors were animated by a deep sense of purpose. In his case, it was a steely resolve to make it out alive and be reunited with his family.

So what does Man's Search for Meaning have to do with starting a business? You might think the lesson is about persistence or the need to have a mission statement for your company. While these may be important, but that's not why I'm writing this. Instead, I'm speaking to you, because I firmly believe that the very first step to launch a successful new venture is not knowing your customer (although that is indeed critical), but knowing yourself.