In the busy world of startups, companies frequently have to rethink their original plans and goals. Changing direction might feel really tough but looking back we can see that a lot of successful companies have made surprising moves to achieve great things. Here are a few lessons learned from startups that changed direction successfully which can help entrepreneurs who want to make improvements.
Make sure the main values stay the same.
A big part of making a successful change is sticking to the main values that shaped your startup's purpose in the beginning. Instagram started out as Burbn which was an app for checking in at places and had a lot of different features but then it changed to just sharing photos. Even with the changes the company still focused on its main goal of helping users connect better through visual ways of expressing themselves. Business owners need to figure out what makes their company special and important and hold on to that even if other things have to shift.
Pay attention to what your customers are saying.
Hearing what customers have to say can really help you make important changes that lead to success. Consider Slack as an example. At first it was just a little side project created by the people who made an online game called Glitch that is no longer around. The team saw that their tool for talking and working together was missing in other companies. This input made them change direction and roll out Slack as a complete tool for business communication. Look carefully at what customers like and what bothers them because it might show you the way ahead.
Try things out change them and adjust as needed
The lean startup approach focuses on creating things testing them and figuring out what works in quick rounds. This method worked well for Twitter which started out as a podcast service called Odeo. When Apple was at the top of the podcasting world the team shifted gears to create a microblogging platform that turned into the Twitter we recognize now. Checking your ideas carefully before going all in helps startups adjust easily without facing big problems.
See limits as chances to grow.
Limits can sometimes spark new ideas. When startups run into problems or don’t have enough resources they often find ways to make the best of the situation. Groupon started out as a site called The Point that helped people come together for community causes. Seeing that scaling up was tough, they decided to concentrate on group buying offers which came about after they got feedback from their first try with local pizza deals. Business owners should see limitations as an opportunity to come up with new ideas in a specific area which could lead to significant results.
Make use of the people you know.
Often the best ideas come from talking to people and building relationships in your work circle. Airbnb changed direction by using their connections to offer places to stay for people attending conferences when they needed to make more money. Making connections can help you come up with new ideas and find ways to work together when things change. Making connections and developing relationships in your field can lead to fresh ideas and important collaborations that are key to your startup doing well.
Changing direction is more than a choice for new businesses. In a tough business world it is usually needed to get by. Entrepreneurs can find new paths for their startups by focusing on important values paying attention to what customers say working within limits trying out different ideas and using their connections. Which lessons from these important experiences stand out to you as you navigate your path in business?
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