In Kurosawa's epic 'Seven Samurai,' lies a valuable insight.
Bandits pledge to snatch all the peasants' harvest when it's ripe. The whole village is in despair. Suddenly, the elder recalls a time when the village survived because hired samurai protected it.
The peasants object: "That was a wealthy village. But besides barley, we got nothing. Samurai are proud folks. Will they take grain instead of cash?"
The elder replies: "Besides food, we got nothing. Find hungry samurai. 'Cause even a bear leaves the woods for hunger."
The difference in their thinking is glaring. Peasants habitually slump into the victim role. The cruel world has banded against them.
Even when a prototype solution is handed to them, they can't grab it. Their minds are shackled with false beliefs: "We're too poor. We got nothing valuable."
But if you dig deeper, you'll see - their self-absorption is getting in the way. They drown in self-pity, unable to see the world outside themselves.
Otherwise, they'd momentarily forget themselves and show genuine interest in the samurai. It'd become clear—they're humans too. In different circumstances. Who also need to eat to live.
The same mistake founders make when they overly focus on their company, its products, technologies, team, and so forth. They mistakenly try to solve the problem of their system from within.
The problem starts resolving itself when the founders and their team shift their focus from themselves to the customers. Or rather, to their problems. New doors swing open before them.
It turns out there's a special category of customers to whom you have something to offer. Your unique alliance will ensure a collective win.
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.
How can I help you?
If you've long been trying to understand what is limiting you and/or your business and how to finally give important changes a push, then The Catalyst Session is designed specifically for you. Book it here.