Anna Degtereva NO is only the beginning of a conversation: goal achievement

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From 'NO' to 'YES': Lessons from a Tech Startup Mentor

Hello! I'm Anna D Koa, founder and CEO of the Happy Farm Business Accelerator. I'm also an investor and mentor for early-stage tech startups worldwide. My goal here is to help you navigate through the challenges and hurdles of building an ecosystem, a venture fund, or an accelerator.

Understanding the Journey

First and foremost, it's vital to understand that embarking on a tech startup venture is not always smooth sailing. There are plenty of highs and lows, victories and setbacks. But remember, every adversity brings opportunities for growth and learning.

In my time in the tech arena, I’ve learned some vital lessons, which I'd like to share with you. What I'd like you to take away from this piece are four key lessons. Each one is a small tile in the mosaic of startup success:

1. Tenacity


2. Identifying Key People


3. The Importance of Timing and Mood


4. Flexibility and Patience

Lesson 1: Embrace Tenacity

No matter the field, tenacity is key. It's about perseverance, determination, and never giving up. A prime example of this is my experience while working as a translator. Eager for change and thirsty for new challenges, I set my sights on becoming a human resources manager. Even though the position didn't exist in my company at the time, I kept pushing for it - showing up, sending my resume, again and again, proving my commitment to such an extent that my sheer tenacity was impossible to ignore.

Lesson 2: Identify Key People

Highlighting the right people to influence or get support from is crucial in shaping your path in the tech world. My experience with garnering sponsorships for my company is a case in point. I spoke to numerous managers who didn’t see the value in my product. But it was when I found the decision maker - the person who realized my product was worth sponsoring - that I experienced a shift in the company’s response. Finding a way to the key decision maker can sometimes be the key to shifting a 'no' to a 'yes'.

Lesson 3: Let Timing and Mood Guide You

Right time, right mood, right words. These crucial elements should guide your approach to decision-makers. Being sensitive to circumstances is fundamental, whether it's adapting your work hours to suit your client's schedule or refining your product presentation to emphasize its value for the prospect's specific needs. Getting this bit right involves understanding your product, your prospect, and their specific context better.

Lesson 4: Be Flexible and Patient

Last, but certainly not least, is the importance of flexibility and patience. As children, we instinctively understand that we may not always get what we want immediately. We go back to our parents' time and time again, until they finally relent. Convert this childhood lesson into a professional strategy. Keep trying, fine-tuning your approach as necessary, until you get that coveted 'YES'.

Conclusion

Launching and running tech startups is challenging for sure, but with tenacity, the ability to identify key people, an understanding of mood and timing, and a healthy dose of flexibility and patience, you can transform the many NOs into emphatic YESes.

Contact Me

Want to learn more or need advice? Feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn. I’m always happy to hear from like-minded individuals and provide my input on your journey.

This article has been adapted from a speech given by Anna D Koa.


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