Can You Win? Are You A Winner

When VCs introduce themselves, they talk about their focus, or their thesis.  Sometimes they talk about what they did prior to VC.  Other times they will tell you the stage they invest, if they lead deals, if they serve on boards and their check size.  This is nice and helps entrepreneurs sort.

What entrepreneurs really want to know is how to get a check out of them.

I don’t know one VC that’s written a check to an entrepreneur that they thought was just okay.  They back winners.  They think their portfolio is full of thoroughbred racehorses capable of winning the triple crown.

You need to show that you are a winner.

Andy Swan used to tweet a lot about the #winzone. Check it out. One of these days I am going to make my way down to Louisville and kick his butt in Yahtzee.

Almost all the entrepreneurs I know that are successful are insanely competitive.  The are gamesmen with a lot of discipline.  This is where having a past experience in competitive athletics or competing for first chair in the orchestra really serve an entrepreneur well.

I knew a guy that backed a lot of traders. He only backed athletes.  It was not just about their size.  They were big people.  It was about their attitude and how they went about their work.  They competed every minute of every day.  They were disciplined about it.  They showed up on time and they put in the extra work it took to succeed because they didn’t want to fail.

When they failed, and they did, they had enough grit and moxie to pick themselves up and fight again.   Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders was right, “Just win baby”.  Winners never quit and quitters never win.  I can, I will, I must.

Of course, it doesn’t mean win at all costs.  It doesn’t mean to cheat, lie, fake your way to success.  It doesn’t mean you have a license to treat other people and employees badly.  Winners don’t do those things because if you do you won’t be successful.

As an entrepreneur, somehow show to the VC you can win.  If your business fits everything else then they’d be stupid not to write a check.