How To Master The Art Of Running a Startup

Running a startup is a challenging task. From setting up milestones, meeting tricky deadlines, understanding the market shift, to keeping a check on your competitor’s moves, a startup just has too much on its plate. According to current 2025 data, up to 90% of startups ultimately fail, with about 10% failing in their first year, and a staggering 70% shutting down between years two and five.

No wonder, the stats coming out of the startup arena don’t really inspire confidence. Almost 90% of the startups fail. But at the same time, one has to acknowledge the fact that most of the billion-dollar multinationals in the Silicon Valley once began as startups. It clearly indicates that although running a startup is no walk in the park, there is success to be had if you get your act right.

So what does it take to keep your startup going in the right direction and overcome the bumps and slides that come along the way? The following points should be of help if you’re running a startup and need some guidance:

6 Effective Tips to Master The Art Of Running a Startup

Running a startup isn't just about having a great idea; it’s about turning that idea into a sustainable business model while navigating uncertainties, long hours, and market shifts. The following tried-and-tested tips can help startup founders stay focused, build resilience, and lead their ventures toward growth and success.

1. Never Let The Goal Off Your Sight

As a startup, nobody is really expecting anything extraordinary out of you. Instead of assuming a relaxed approach, go for a proactive one. Take this as an opportunity to shine and make a name for yourself. In a startup world, the challenges you encounter prove to be like nothing of the sort you’ve experienced before. So it’s important you keep a watchful eye on the goal you’re working towards. Believe strongly that you’ll achieve it sooner or later.

Given you’re a beginner, there’ll be plenty to learn from people around you. There’s no point in staying aloof and self-centered. From time to time, take note of how your competitors are performing and what their modus operandi is to get things done. This way, your rivals can act as a source of inspiration for you.

Also Read: How to Prevent Your Fintech Startup From Failing?

2. Nothing Strange In Working Overtime

As mentioned earlier, life as a startup is really a hectic one. There’s always a huge backlog of tasks piling up, and you consistently find yourself running a race against time. Even working overtime or on weekends doesn’t prove enough.

But that’s the startup world for you. You have to accept it and keep the energy levels up as much as possible. Time utilization becomes quite crucial. Mulling over a task for too long isn’t an option. Since there are always tasks to take care of, spend time on those that can be best handled in a given time period.

Also Read: Top 8 Startups Ideas For Mobile App Development

3. You’re Busy - No Shame Admitting That

It’s easy to forget about your commitments to family and friends when you’re so absorbed in taking care of the startup affairs. Irrespective of the nature of your loved one towards your newfound endeavors, it’s best to communicate your situation to them as soon as possible.

You won’t want the people closest to you beginning to believe that they don’t have a place in your world now. Often in tough circumstances, these are the people we look towards for motivation and support. It’s best to convey your work schedule to them. That way, they’ll know when to reach out without disturbing you.

Balancing startup life with personal relationships isn’t about achieving perfect harmony, it’s about being transparent and intentional. When your inner circle understands your path, they’ll likely become your biggest cheerleaders rather than feeling left behind.

4. Talk Things Out

Plans, requirements, deadlines, and estimations can change within a short span of time. To ensure that everyone is abreast to the latest info, communicate it often. However, avoid those long and dull discussions where there’s a lot of talking around the bush but no attempt to address the nub of the issues.

In an ideal world, you’d always have someone taking care of a job. But the startup is far from an ideal world. You can’t expect things to work out on their own. If you’re unsure about a task’s status, learn to ring the alarm bells and ask around if anyone is taking care of it. Don’t expect things to work out on their own.

Also Read: How do Successful Startups Save Money with MVP?

5. Initiative - A Must-Have Quality

When you’re in a startup, one thing that’s got to come naturally to you is the ability to take initiative. As startups are still trying to figure out the best methods that work for them, it’s a good idea to always be trying and testing things out.

You’d be amazed how this sort of attitude can rub off on your colleagues. These are the values that, once instilled in your workspace, can go on to define the nature of your company as it starts to mature and gains recognition.

Startups are built on experimentation. You’re constantly iterating, tweaking, and finding what clicks. This means there are no strict playbooks. only bold moves and learning curves. When team members consistently bring new ideas to the table, it cultivates a culture of innovation and adaptability.

Over time, this proactive mindset sets the foundation for a resilient and growth-oriented company.

6. Know When To Stop And Relax

At last, learn to draw a breath of relief when you’ve given everything on the field. From time to time, you need to sit down and see where you’re headed. Depending on your progress, revise or follow the plan in motion.

If everything is going as planned, you could hang out with your friends and family whom your busy schedule hasn’t allowed you to catch up with. Once you’ve recuperated your strength and got the batteries recharged, it’s time to take another dig and pursue your goals.

Taking a break isn’t about losing momentum; it’s about regaining clarity. Step back occasionally to reflect on your startup’s progress. Are you still aligned with your goals? Is your current strategy working, or is it time to pivot? Regular self-assessment allows you to course-correct before small issues become big problems.

Wrapping Up

The startup journey is always a tricky one. You’re never quite sure what will work out of a given course of action. But if the mindset is right, things tend to work out in your favor more often than not. Following the aforementioned tips is sure to help any startup stuck in the quagmire of uncertainty and workload achieve stability and get back on track.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. Also, if you’re looking to take your startup to the next level, you can check the video below to see how Apptunix empowers businesses with cutting-edge app development solutions.