Scott Cook, founder and chairman of Intuit, once said: “Success is a powerful thing. It tends to make companies stupid, and they become less and less innovative.”
I would argue that this sentiment is not only true — it also spans far beyond the realm of large corporations into the land of startups. Time and time again I have seen startups having some early success, basking in their glory and forgetting to keep innovating — only to see themselves being replaced by the next two guys in a garage.
The ugly truth about entrepreneurship is — the race never ends. Regardless how successful you are, you are always fighting for survival. You might not feel it that much as you currently have customers who love you, some money in the bank and a great product line-up. But if history is any indicator, chances are: That only last so long. And given that innovation cycles are only getting faster, you better don’t rest too long.
And that’s exactly what is exciting about entrepreneurship: It’s about the journey, not the destination.
Hang tight and enjoy the ride.