Rudyard Kipling was an entrepreneur

I was recently sent a speech that John Bogle, founder of Vanguard, gave to Roxbury Latin Academy‘s graduating class.  John shared Rudyard Kipling‘s powerful poem If.

If was first published in 1895, but it’s incredibly relevant to life in a startup in 2009.  Kipling understood the plight of an entrepreneur.  His words will help you through those late nights and early mornings when your boss is bearing down on you to get it done!

For those tough times, here’s my “entrepreneurial analysis”  of his poem.  Enjoy!

IF . . .
IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Kipling speaks to all of us with outside stakeholders:  investors, customers, partners, family, etc.  When you feel the pressure of those who say “hurry up, and make it happen” hold your course and have faith in yourself and your team.  Be strong, and show them that you will succeed.

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;

Thinking of a world-changing idea is great but only half the battle. You must make that idea a reality. Roger Martin and Kipling would get along.

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

This cuts straight to the essential character of an entrepreneur: don’t believe your own hype, and don’t let failures stop you.

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

Kipling knew all about ‘skin in the game’. To succeed you must be willing to fail. Put your money where your mouth is.

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

In the words of another famous poet “Don’t give up the fight!” – Bob Marley

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

A simple but important lesson: always work as hard as you possibly can.

Kipling may have ended If with the line  “And – which is more – You’ll be a Man, my son!” What he really mean to say was this:

And – which is more – a successful startup will become!