Our recent national holiday of October 28th got me thinking about some personal beliefs and hard-won lessons, which led me to write this article.
Ideologically, I am a pacifist. However, recognizing that we don’t live in an ideal world (yet), I acknowledge the risk of external hostilities and my duty to protect my country and people if necessary.
I am a firm believer in making the most of every experience life presents. So, with military service obligatory for all adult men in Greece, I chose to enlist as a reserve officer upon graduating high school to ensure my service would be as educational as possible. Although the experience wasn’t quite as ideal as I’d romanticized, my time as an infantry platoon commander taught me valuable lessons that I believe are relevant to fellow founders.
1. Commanding with Purpose
To run a platoon successfully, you must ensure that every soldier understands and commits to a higher cause. Tasks may be boring, unpleasant, or even dangerous, but linking them to the bigger picture facilitates high morale and effective execution. Likewise, in a startup, a clear and compelling mission is essential. It’s the founder’s role to make sure everyone knows why they’re doing what they’re doing and how it adds value.
2. Leading by Example
Leading a platoon as a 19-year-old with under six months of service is challenging –especially when giving orders to sergeants twice your age with over a decade in the army. In such situations, rank alone isn’t enough to command respect; it’s earned by being hands-on and embodying the values and commitment you expect from others. In the same way, as a founder, you can’t rely on your title alone. Your team needs to see you willing to do the hard work yourself, likely doing it best and longest.
3. Inspiring Trust
In a platoon, trust in one another is paramount, and the commander plays a vital role in building it by being attentive and supportive, reassuring soldiers that he “has their back”. Similarly, a founder can cultivate trust within a startup by being mindful of each person’s unique needs and circumstances, providing a safe space for team members to express their ideas and learn together, ultimately fostering a culture of shared responsibility and ownership.
+1. Fight Smart
As an infantry officer, I’m sworn to hold my ground to the last drop of my blood. But as a founder, who passionately loved his companies and fought to the last euro, my word of wisdom to the new generation of entrepreneurs is this: Fall in love with your customers’ problem, not your solution, experiment on the smallest scale possible, and live to fight another day.
Unlike war, where failure can mean loss of life –or, worse, freedom– in business, failure is a cornerstone of success; it’s an essential step in a meaningful learning process that can’t be rushed.
May our leaders grow wiser, and may we finally achieve lasting, universal peace.
