What do Batman's Robin, Brain's Pinky and Don Quixote's Sancho Panza all have in common? They all worked for industrious entrepreneurs. Ok, it is a stretch to believe that any of these three (with the exception of the Brain) could actually be considered entrepreneurs, but their behavior highlights some very key entrepreneurial characteristics and also shows how, without a good sidekick, most entrepreneurs are doomed.
Batman is probably one of the coolest super heroes ever created by DC Comics (clearly this is up for debate, but my opinions actually do count on this blog). Batman, also known as Bruce Wayne, did not have super powers, he was not from another planet and he was not irradiated causing some genetic power. In fact, Batman is very mortal. What Bruce Wayne had was a vision, he wanted his beloved Gotham City, which had fallen in to despair, to be safe. This is where you see the entrepreneurism come to light. Just like many other entrepreneurs, Bruce Wayne started with an idea or a moral idealism. He then created an alter ego to capitalize on that idea. In much the same way as an entrepreneur pours his life and fortune in to making their vision a reality, so to does Bruce Wayne in equipping his alter ego. There is one other aspect to Batman as well as Bruce Wayne, they are always the coolest people in the room.
Robin, or Dick Grayson, is not cool at all. He is a bumbling "kid" with little to no direction. In some comics he is portrayed as a wild child, but at the end of the day, he is the guy who states the obvious and is there to take the flack from his boss, Batman. Interestingly, Robin's ability to state the obvious is sometimes what leads Batman to "solve" the case. In many ways, this is the role that many of us have played for our Entrepreneur super hero. First and foremost, most Entrepreneur's view themselves as the coolest person in the room. Whether or not this is true or not will be topic for future debate and articles, but let's just assume that they are. Most entrepreneur's are highly social (as it relates to their ego) beings. They need to be told how great they are and how their vision and idea will change the world. Enter their trusty side-kick who can make the Entrepreneur feel good even on their lowest day. I observed this first hand in a technical startup that I worked at as a number two.
At times, my Batman would get down on himself, would worry that maybe he was heading in the wrong direction. I would routinely step in to state (and often restate) the obvious, "...this is hard work, we are doing something none had ever done, we have to keep pressing forward." Even more importantly, I played the role of punching bag. Consider the atmosphere of most start-ups: close quarters, limited leadership and not very many throats to choke. This is not the easiest role to play, in fact, I would argue that the absolute hardest job at a start-up is being the closest person to the action and not the Entrepreneur. We have this view of the carnage without the full knowledge of how good or bad things are. After all, no one can truly say for sure if we are on or off target as well as the entrepreneur and most times, they are the most guarded people you have ever met. So for the entrepreneurs who might read this, give your Robin a break from time to time, they hurt too.
One of my favorite animated series is Pinky and the Brain. I have not seen an episode since I was in high school, but I can say that I quote that show as much as I quote Seinfeld and that is saying something. The Brain embodies everything that makes entrepreneurism great. The episodes always ended the same way:
Pinky: "Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?"
The Brain: "The same thing we do every night, Pinky—try to take over the world!"
The Brain: "The same thing we do every night Pinky, try to take over the world!"
EXACTLY!! In my utopian view of every Entrepreneur, this is how they go to sleep every night. They close their eyes each and every night either dreaming of a new way to take over the world, or determining how their current method will lead to world domination. These two lab rats get so close every single night, but always seem to fall short. Some would say that it is because they are two lab rats, so it would be impossible for them to achieve what The Brain schemes, but the reality is that The Brain fails, not because of his stature but because some inevitably goes wrong with a variable. What a great social commentary, but even better entrepreneurial commentary.
We all know this entrepreneur or inventor, the one that creates the perfect solution, plans for every aspect, but fails to materialize or monetize the solution because someone or something changed the rules along the way. They fail, and come back for more, over and over, because their vision drives them. And you also might know, or could possibly even be, the living personification of Pinky. We follow our entrepreneurial counterparts from company to company looking for the next indication of how we are going to take over the world. We might not have the nerve to go all in on the plan and say it out loud, but we are ready to support their effort and work as hard as possible to realize their vision. Pinky is not stupid or feeble as many would think.
If anything, he consistently pulls The Brain out of trouble and alerts him to the dangers he cannot see (mostly because he has his "entrepreneurial blinders" on), so dumb, no. What Pinky does have is blind faith in his partner. He believes that The Brain must know what he is doing and trusts that The Brain's plans will eventually serve them both, for The Brain to be able to take over the world and for Pinky to be able to have the full attention of his friend once it is done. Number 2's have a similar desire, we want to support the entrepreneur in what they want to do because, though we are not completely selfless, we do revel in watching someone else get all the credit. There is some deeper meaning to watching someone succeed for the Number 2.
As far as early literary works go Don Quixote (The Man of La Mancha) is probably one of the best embodiments of the entrepreneur. The crazy, probably categorically insane, antics of the main character can be closely aligned to almost every entrepreneur I have ever worked for. Don Quixote goes as far as to create his own reality to justify his existence and many would argue that once that reality was exposed as fake, it all but killed him. I have witnessed this first hand in the start-up. Most entrepreneurs will go to almost any length to justify and validate not only their ideas and vision, but also the manner in which they go about realizing those dreams.
This brings us to Sancho Panza, the wayward sidekick that was brought on by Don Quixote as his squire by asking him and promising him the governorship of an island. Given the fact that Panza was one of Quixote's neighbors, there is no doubt he saw just how crazy he was, but he still agreed and decided to see just how far Quixote would get. There is the chance that maybe Don Quixote was crazy enough to make it actually happen.
So the two hapless adventurers set off, Don Quixote on his skinny steed and Sancho Panza riding behind on his mule. Truly a great image of nearly every start-up and entrepreneur. Our entrepreneur counterparts riding gallantly ahead on an idea that is not fully realized and "skinny" and their supporters, and number 2's riding from behind on strong intentions and unwavering support. Don Quixote faced more adversity and trouble than he could possibly imagine (much by his own inability to filter what should and should not be said and done), but Panza was always there to make sure he got home safe.
I have spent many hours listening to and cringing at the musings of the entrepreneurs that I have had the opportunity to work for and with. Being the Number 2 is never an easy place to be, and it is almost always an under-appreciated position, but it is, in my opinion, one of the most important positions at every start-up. There are not too many examples of great companies being built on one person.
© 2011 Greg Saxon All Rights Reserved
Batman is probably one of the coolest super heroes ever created by DC Comics (clearly this is up for debate, but my opinions actually do count on this blog). Batman, also known as Bruce Wayne, did not have super powers, he was not from another planet and he was not irradiated causing some genetic power. In fact, Batman is very mortal. What Bruce Wayne had was a vision, he wanted his beloved Gotham City, which had fallen in to despair, to be safe. This is where you see the entrepreneurism come to light. Just like many other entrepreneurs, Bruce Wayne started with an idea or a moral idealism. He then created an alter ego to capitalize on that idea. In much the same way as an entrepreneur pours his life and fortune in to making their vision a reality, so to does Bruce Wayne in equipping his alter ego. There is one other aspect to Batman as well as Bruce Wayne, they are always the coolest people in the room.
Robin, or Dick Grayson, is not cool at all. He is a bumbling "kid" with little to no direction. In some comics he is portrayed as a wild child, but at the end of the day, he is the guy who states the obvious and is there to take the flack from his boss, Batman. Interestingly, Robin's ability to state the obvious is sometimes what leads Batman to "solve" the case. In many ways, this is the role that many of us have played for our Entrepreneur super hero. First and foremost, most Entrepreneur's view themselves as the coolest person in the room. Whether or not this is true or not will be topic for future debate and articles, but let's just assume that they are. Most entrepreneur's are highly social (as it relates to their ego) beings. They need to be told how great they are and how their vision and idea will change the world. Enter their trusty side-kick who can make the Entrepreneur feel good even on their lowest day. I observed this first hand in a technical startup that I worked at as a number two.
At times, my Batman would get down on himself, would worry that maybe he was heading in the wrong direction. I would routinely step in to state (and often restate) the obvious, "...this is hard work, we are doing something none had ever done, we have to keep pressing forward." Even more importantly, I played the role of punching bag. Consider the atmosphere of most start-ups: close quarters, limited leadership and not very many throats to choke. This is not the easiest role to play, in fact, I would argue that the absolute hardest job at a start-up is being the closest person to the action and not the Entrepreneur. We have this view of the carnage without the full knowledge of how good or bad things are. After all, no one can truly say for sure if we are on or off target as well as the entrepreneur and most times, they are the most guarded people you have ever met. So for the entrepreneurs who might read this, give your Robin a break from time to time, they hurt too.
One of my favorite animated series is Pinky and the Brain. I have not seen an episode since I was in high school, but I can say that I quote that show as much as I quote Seinfeld and that is saying something. The Brain embodies everything that makes entrepreneurism great. The episodes always ended the same way:
Pinky: "Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?"
The Brain: "The same thing we do every night, Pinky—try to take over the world!"
The Brain: "The same thing we do every night Pinky, try to take over the world!"
EXACTLY!! In my utopian view of every Entrepreneur, this is how they go to sleep every night. They close their eyes each and every night either dreaming of a new way to take over the world, or determining how their current method will lead to world domination. These two lab rats get so close every single night, but always seem to fall short. Some would say that it is because they are two lab rats, so it would be impossible for them to achieve what The Brain schemes, but the reality is that The Brain fails, not because of his stature but because some inevitably goes wrong with a variable. What a great social commentary, but even better entrepreneurial commentary.
We all know this entrepreneur or inventor, the one that creates the perfect solution, plans for every aspect, but fails to materialize or monetize the solution because someone or something changed the rules along the way. They fail, and come back for more, over and over, because their vision drives them. And you also might know, or could possibly even be, the living personification of Pinky. We follow our entrepreneurial counterparts from company to company looking for the next indication of how we are going to take over the world. We might not have the nerve to go all in on the plan and say it out loud, but we are ready to support their effort and work as hard as possible to realize their vision. Pinky is not stupid or feeble as many would think.
If anything, he consistently pulls The Brain out of trouble and alerts him to the dangers he cannot see (mostly because he has his "entrepreneurial blinders" on), so dumb, no. What Pinky does have is blind faith in his partner. He believes that The Brain must know what he is doing and trusts that The Brain's plans will eventually serve them both, for The Brain to be able to take over the world and for Pinky to be able to have the full attention of his friend once it is done. Number 2's have a similar desire, we want to support the entrepreneur in what they want to do because, though we are not completely selfless, we do revel in watching someone else get all the credit. There is some deeper meaning to watching someone succeed for the Number 2.
As far as early literary works go Don Quixote (The Man of La Mancha) is probably one of the best embodiments of the entrepreneur. The crazy, probably categorically insane, antics of the main character can be closely aligned to almost every entrepreneur I have ever worked for. Don Quixote goes as far as to create his own reality to justify his existence and many would argue that once that reality was exposed as fake, it all but killed him. I have witnessed this first hand in the start-up. Most entrepreneurs will go to almost any length to justify and validate not only their ideas and vision, but also the manner in which they go about realizing those dreams.
This brings us to Sancho Panza, the wayward sidekick that was brought on by Don Quixote as his squire by asking him and promising him the governorship of an island. Given the fact that Panza was one of Quixote's neighbors, there is no doubt he saw just how crazy he was, but he still agreed and decided to see just how far Quixote would get. There is the chance that maybe Don Quixote was crazy enough to make it actually happen.
I have spent many hours listening to and cringing at the musings of the entrepreneurs that I have had the opportunity to work for and with. Being the Number 2 is never an easy place to be, and it is almost always an under-appreciated position, but it is, in my opinion, one of the most important positions at every start-up. There are not too many examples of great companies being built on one person.
© 2011 Greg Saxon All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment