By Samuel Salinas*
One of the great mistakes of early entrepreneurs is to believe that climbing as quickly as possible is equivalent to success. The reality, however, shows another face: approximately 18% of small businesses fail during their first year, and almost 50% do not survive more than five years. In Mexico, about 33% of new businesses close in their first year of life, according to INEGI data. The problem is not usually the lack of ambition, but the absence of structure.
The CEO of the future understands that true priority is standardizing, then climbing. In other words: before growing, it must be ensured that the processes work, that they are repeatable and that they can maintain without depending on the founder’s constant intervention. Because climbing without standardizing is multiplying errors, not results.
Although it is easy to be seduced by the illusion of accelerated expansion, from my own experience working with startups and scalable businesses in Mexico and Europe, I can assure that sustained success lies in the capacity of companies to build clear processes and train their teams under defined standards. The strategy of opening multiple business units that last little, is unfeasible. The CEO of the future is committed to a brand with enduring, solid and successful presence, even if that implies a more conservative expansion.
Standardizing is not bureaucratizing. It is professionalizing. Is to transform the intuition of the founder into systems that work regardless of who is executing. A standardized process allows bottlenecks to be identified, optimize resources and prepare business to raise investment or scaing territorially. And most importantly: it reduces dependence on heroic talent and increases the resilience of the organization.
The market is also observing. Capital funds no longer bet on the idea or personality of the CEO: they want to see foundations. The ability to climb in an orderly and predictable way is a key differentiator. A startup that operates without processes, without clear and without operational manuals is a risk. Instead, one that already acts as a company even if it is small inspires confidence.
In addition, standardize before climbing allows you to contain costs. Many startups burn capital trying to grow with makeshift structures. They hire fast, they delegate without clarity, they replicate models without adapting them. The result: operational leaks, low quality, staff rotation and an inconsistent customer experience. All of that can be avoided with a well -founded strategy.
In a business environment where agility is important, solidity is even more. The CEO of the future knows that it is not about moving quickly at any price, but about building a firm base on which to grow without compromising quality or vision.
The challenge today is not just to lift millions or reach new regions and markets. The real challenge is to build a company capable of holding over time, replicating its model and climbing without breaking. And that is only achieved if you standardize before climbing.
About the author:
*Samuel Salinas is CEO of Proceed Ventures.
The opinions expressed are only the responsibility of their authors and are completely independent of the position and the editorial line of Forbes Mexico.
Follow business information and today in Forbes Mexico
