time as the enemy

Starting a company feels like creating a conspiracy against the world.

Few people understand why you're doing it. Many question your decision making. Some feel their own values being challenged.

My cofounder has mentioned that "time is the enemy" -- that we need to get our product launched faster and get to revenue quicker. Each day we delay is a day lost.

The trouble is that I think he's right, while I wish he were wrong.

Why should time be the enemy? Is that not antithetical to enjoying the process of building?

A friend, also a startup cofounder, mentioned that the early days are "the hardest and the most fun".

It's easy to run to get into production, rather than enjoying the production itself.

But here is why my cofounder is right - "enjoyment" is hard to redeem for payment when the mortgage comes due.

And thus is the tension of building a company, or other similarly-risky things:

• You wanted the excitement and uncertainty when operating in a place of security
• The world will not recognize your greatness until the risk is gone and the excitement dries
• The rest of the world goes on: the status games, the mortgage payments, and the visits to the dentist

Enjoy the process, but also make sure you're successful.

After all, time beats on.