What do pigs, chickens, and startups have in common? Much more than you think. In this article, I will explain why all startup founders need to be fully and not partially involved to ensure their projects survive or be resilient in the medium to long term.
The story of the pig and the chicken is a fable often used to illustrate the difference between being committed and being involved. According to this metaphor, the chicken suggests the pig open a restaurant called Eggs and Bacon. The pig says no since the pig would be committed and the chicken would only be involved. In other words, the pig would be “putting all the meat on the grill,” whereas the chicken would only be providing the eggs.
This difference is crucial for creating and developing a startup. Startups are companies in search of a scalable, repeatable, and innovative business model, which face a lot of uncertainty and risk.
What happens if founders are like chickens? They may lose interest, motivation, passion, or focus for their project. They may get distracted by other opportunities, give up when faced with difficulties, or delegate important decisions to others. They may settle for the minimum without seeking excellence or differentiation. They may forget about their customers, value proposition, or vision. All in all, they may jeopardize the success of their startup.
For this reason, if you want to create a successful startup, you must be like the pig. Commit 100% to your project and prove it with facts. Be the first to believe in your idea and work hard to make it happen. Be the leader of your team and the ambassador of your brand. Be the example of what you want to achieve and spread your passion to others with enthusiasm.
Pigs are passionate about what they do and spread their enthusiasm.
Passion is what differentiates pigs from chickens. Pigs love what they do and do it with dedication and devotion. Chickens are only after quick and easy benefits, regardless of the value they bring to society.
The driving force behind entrepreneurs is passion. It is what makes them overcome obstacles, failures, and criticism. It allows entrepreneurs to enjoy the process and not just the result. Their enthusiasm spreads to others and creates a positive and motivating company culture.
Making money is not the goal. It is the consequence of doing things right. If you focus only on money, you lose the meaning of your project and become a chicken. However, if you focus on value, you will make money and become a pig.
To be a pig implies working with intelligence, efficiency, and quality. It means knowing how to delegate, prioritize and optimize; taking care of your physical and mental health, family, and leisure; being happy with what you do and who you are. However, remember the most important thing: a positive, proactive, and resilient attitude toward challenges. Most of all, be passionate about what you do.
Although being a pig is not easy and requires time, dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance, it is worth it. At the end of the road, you will look back and feel proud of what you have created, how you have helped others, and how you have left your mark on the world. At the end of the road, you will be able to say: I was a pig.
Hopefully, this article has helped you reflect on your commitment to your project and identify your strengths and weaknesses as an entrepreneur. Always remember that the most important thing is to have a positive, proactive, and resilient attitude toward challenges and, above all, to have passion for what you do.
And you, are you a pig or a chicken?
Guillermo Azqueta
CEO de Fellow Funders
