The Startup Mentality That Drives Real Growth

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of Playing to Win!

My newsletter is designed specifically to help business owners like you grow your companies with tried & applied bits of business knowledge, all communicated in actionable, bite-sized chunks. I will share insights and advice aimed at enhancing your business operations, boosting your success, and allowing you to focus more on what truly matters. Let's work together to achieve your goals and make your endeavors a reality.

Early growth comes from rallying loyal, committed people—not just skilled hires.
The startup mentality is a mindset of shared belief and relentless pursuit, valuable at any growth stage.
Business success is rooted in people who risk it all together around a clear mission.

Starting a business from scratch is one of the most exhilarating—and humbling—experiences you can have. You start with an idea that excites you, a passion that fuels your fire, and a belief that you’ve found something real. You test the market, you refine your pitch, and then there’s that moment you look around and realize you’re not alone anymore.

That’s the startup mentality at its purest: rallying the people who believe in you—not necessarily because of their skill set, but because of their loyalty, their commitment, and their shared belief in the mission.

At MIT45, we started small—just one rooftop, less than 30 people. But those early days were filled with relentless drive and trust. Sean and Dalton didn’t just hire employees; they brought along friends, family, and believers. People who were willing to risk it all alongside them. And that loyalty created a foundation stronger than any product or marketing strategy ever could.

That kind of commitment is rare. It’s the kind that can’t be bought or outsourced. It’s earned through honesty, shared vision, and the willingness to weather storms together. When your team feels like a tribe, the grind becomes a shared journey instead of a lonely slog.

But here’s what I want you to take from this: the startup mentality isn’t just for new companies. It’s a mindset you can—and should—carry with you at every stage of growth. Whether you’re launching your first product or scaling to a hundred million in revenue, that hunger, that collective belief, that relentless pursuit of the vision is what moves the needle.

You don’t need a perfect team; you need a committed team. People who buy into the why behind the what. People who show up with passion and refuse to quit. That’s the real secret to growth.

It’s easy to get caught up in titles, roles, or skill sets as companies grow. But never forget: at its core, business is about people and purpose. It’s about the willingness to take risks on each other and on the mission.

Sean and Dalton’s early success wasn’t just about the idea—they had a tribe who believed in the journey. That belief turned into action, and action turned into momentum.

So, whether you’re just starting or scaling up, keep that startup mentality alive. Keep asking: Who believes in what we’re building? Who’s willing to risk it with us? And how do we keep that passion alive, no matter how big the company gets?

Because loyalty, commitment, and shared drive aren’t just for startups—they’re the foundation of every lasting business.