How Not To Be Intimidated In Silicon Valley

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Founder of WELA, Upuia Ahkiong, had a conversation with Laura Ching, co-owner of Tiny Prints, an online stationery store, and discussed how success happens when you stop overanalyzing.

So, you decided to become an entrepreneur before you had an idea; what gave you that unique perspective? "I get this question a lot.  I feel like I am not the norm, and that you're right I decided to become an entrepreneur before I had an idea.  When I graduated from Business School, I didn't have the confidence to go out on my own.  There are probably several reasons, but as I reflect, several come to mind.  I was taught in Business School to take an idea and overanalyze the heck out of it.  So, whenever I thought of an idea, there would be one reason or another that it wasn't the perfect idea or it failed some test."

"Another reason was that I was surrounded by amazingly brilliant classmates whom all seemed much more innovative and more capable than me and who had a lot more experience, so I was intimidated. I didn't feel like I had what it would take.  Somewhere along the road, I changed my mind.  I concluded that ideas aren't necessarily what make it happen; it's more about the team, the cohesiveness of the team in our case.  Tiny prints selling stationery online I obviously loved it, but it's not a sexy idea, nor a crazy big idea.   We were lucky; we had a team that really believed in execution," Laura expressed with a sweet smile. 

Let's leave entrepreneurs reading this with a goal or a boost for their day.  Laura emphasized, "You don't need a crazy idea big idea to start a business. I think it really depends on modest goals.  You need to focus on the small wins; literally, getting an order a week was a win.  You need to set yourself up to have those early wins because that will give you the confidence to keep going."

SOURCE WELA Female Entrepreneur Support