Small Companies v Big Companies

Summary

• Many people join smaller companies for autonomy and freedom. They also want more responsibilities and the chance to learn.
• At smaller companies, you can move faster and have less direction, which can be rewarding.
• Rapid growth in a smaller company might mean you need to work more to handle that change.
• It's important to remember that while there are upsides to small companies, there are also downsides.
• You can't enjoy more freedom and learning without facing the challenges that come with them.

Video

How To Take Action

I would suggest implementing a mindset shift. When you join a small business, embrace the opportunity to take on more responsibilities and learn. Understand that with autonomy and freedom also comes the need to adapt quickly and tackle challenges as they appear.

One low-cost, high-value action is to take advantage of the fast-paced environment to develop new skills. Set aside time each week for learning. It could be as simple as reading an article or watching a tutorial online. This helps you grow with the company and keep up with its changes.

A good way of managing the rapid growth is to improve your time management. Use free tools like planners or digital apps to plan your workweek effectively. Prioritize tasks and focus on completing one thing at a time. This will help you handle an increased workload without feeling overwhelmed.

Build a feedback loop with your coworkers. Since there’s less direction in a smaller company, regularly checking in can ensure you’re aligned with the team’s goals. Simple, informal feedback sessions can foster a collaborative environment and help everyone adjust to the constant changes.

Finally, remember that challenges are a part of growth. When faced with difficult situations, keep a positive attitude and see them as learning opportunities. This mindset will make the downsides easier to handle and ensure you enjoy the freedom and learning that comes with being part of a small, rapidly-growing company.

Full Transcript

a lot of people join smaller companies because they want autonomy they want freedom they want more responsibilities they want to learn but what allows those things to happen is you move faster you have less Direction it also can then grow very quickly in which case then you have to accommodate the growth and then that probably means you're working more and so I think there's just a lot of stuff that happens that people don't consider you know it's like they want the upsides of working at a small company but then they forget that you also have the downsides of working at a small company and so it's like you can't learn more you can't have more freedom without also the cost of those things