Riding the Wave/Rising Above the Noise

This past weekend I spent time with my younger children at the beach. It was a perfect day, water refreshing, sunny but not scorching, and waves just the right size for my almost-6 year old and ten year old sons (Mishael and Nachum). Shefa, my two year old daughter, was with me... But back to the boys. Within a few minutes, they had mastered the art of the boogie board, and wave after wave served as an endless God given ride, more fun than anything Walt Disney or Six Flags Adventure ever dreamed up. As I watched them, and allowed Shefa to dip her feet in the waves, I was reminded how much of start-up life is trying to catch a wave -- and then stay on top. As many of you know, I have been part of the start-up ecosystem long enough to see wave after wave, sometimes catching a ride up but also at times crashing down, and yes even a "wipe-out" or two (or more, but that's a different discussion). Back to wave catching. Obviously when there are many waves, easier to catch one. On the other hand, it means there is great turmoil in the market -- and thus no time to rest between waves, to plan properly -- simply need to react. And of course there is the "fear" that there is even better wave coming... The kissing cousin of "Riding the Wave" principle in start-up life is "Rising Above the Noise." When there are many waves, there is noise in the system. All the surfers come out at once, and all of a sudden it gets crowded and noisy. Noisy in a real sense, and noisy in the way that the endless ocean all of a sudden feels crowded. Now, in the back of your mind, you know that it can't stay this way -- eventually some of those surfers will get tired, and will go home. But what about you? As an entrepreur, do you have the stamina to keep paddling, and the skill set to rise above the noise, to get noticed by the cheering throng on the beach -- so that they start rooting for you to catch the best waves, to stand up on your board and make the magical seem effortless. In an another post I will take apart a recent rejection I received from a potential investor regarding crowded market and differentiation, but for now let me bless all of us that we manage to keep our heads above the water, catch a wave we like, and ride it in. For those of us serial entrepreneurs -- same blessing, but repeat. :-)