Part 8 of 19 in How to Make Your Own Luck: A Guide for Indian Founders← Part 7Part 9 →
This chapter explains how founders can identify the strategy shown by their time and spending, rather than only by what they say. It helps Indian founders check whether their daily priorities support solving customer problems and building a profitable, trusted brand.
- Your stated strategy and actual strategy may differ.
- Time spent on fundraising instead of customers signals a focus on raising capital.
- Some Indian consumer startups prioritized GMV growth over a profitable, trusted brand.
- When capital became expensive, strategies built around growth at any cost collapsed.
- Review your calendar and bank statements to find your real priorities.
What you say you are betting on and what you are actually betting on are often different. Follow the money and the calendar. If a founder spends most of their time on fundraising decks and little time with customers, the implicit strategy is “raise capital,” not “solve the customer problem.”
Many Indian consumer startups discovered too late that their implicit strategy was “grow GMV at any cost” rather than “build a profitable, trusted brand.” When capital became expensive, the implicit strategy collapsed.
Regularly audit yourself: Look at last month’s calendar and bank statements. What do they reveal about your real priorities?
Frequently asked questions
How can founders identify their implicit strategy?
Follow the money and the calendar. Review last month's calendar and bank statements to see what your time and spending reveal about your real priorities.
What does spending most of your time on fundraising decks indicate?
It suggests the implicit strategy is to raise capital rather than solve the customer problem.
Why did some Indian consumer startups struggle when capital became expensive?
Their implicit strategy was to grow GMV at any cost instead of building a profitable, trusted brand. When capital became expensive, that strategy collapsed.
What should founders audit regularly?
Founders should regularly audit their calendars and bank statements to compare their stated priorities with their actual behavior.