Post Pandemic Pivot, Firing Hundreds of People, and Navigating Founder-Led Growth - Misfit Founders Ep 10

Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with challenges and opportunities. In the latest episode of Misfit Founders, our guest Craig Zingerline, CEO and co-founder of Velocity Growth, discusses his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the significance of grit and persistence in business.

The episode begins by exploring the role of persistence and founder-led sales growth in entrepreneurship. Craig shares his personal experience of overcoming obstacles and setbacks in building his company. He emphasizes the importance of founders taking the lead in driving sales and customer discovery. The power of feedback loops in creating successful products or services is also highlighted.

In the next segment, Craig and our host Biro, delve into the world of entrepreneurship and growth strategies. They discuss holistic growth, bridging the gap between marketing and product, and the significance of retention in scaling a business. Craig brings attention to the lack of exposure to retention metrics among early-stage founders and its potential to be a game-changer.

As the conversation progresses, the two discuss the balance between sales and marketing, particularly for founders who have raised capital. They reflect on the challenges faced by SaaS businesses in 2023 and Craig talks about how the pandemic impacted the growth of his training company. The value of prioritizing marketing alongside sales for startup success is underscored.

The episode then shifts focus to the experiences of Craig alongside two executives, one of whom is a co-founder as well. He shares the challenges they faced during the pivot and growth of their company and how they remained committed to its success. Craig emphasizes the importance of transparency within his team and the use of financial models to manage finances.

One intriguing part of the discussion revolves around the decision between starting a service business and a product business. Craig shares his experiences with building a product and how he eventually found his passion in a service-based model. He discusses the pressures of fundraising and the benefits of being hands-on with customers.

Flexibility in business is another key topic of discussion. The hosts share personal experiences of failing in business due to being too focused and not open to opportunities. The conversation touches on the importance of finding a balance between focus and flexibility. There are insights on navigating conflicting advice from other business owners and emphasize the value of being open to opportunities and adapting to changes.

The episode concludes with a discussion on work-life balance and how the pandemic has influenced our understanding of it. The shift towards valuing output over time investment in the corporate world is explored. Craig also touched on the importance of prioritizing what is important to you and the role of resiliency in entrepreneurship.

This episode of Misfit Founders provides a deep dive into the world of entrepreneurship. It offers valuable insights on the journey and challenges and is a good source for startups looking to achieve sustainable growth. The hosts' personal experiences and insights, coupled with Craig's expert knowledge, make this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship.

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