Ground Zero Management Competencies

The Minimalist Founder; “I just registered whatever was quickest and cheapest — got a friend’s CA to set up an LLP/Partnership. For now, I just need a bank account and GST number. Will think of Private Limited later.”

The Compliance-Conscious Founder; “I spent time understanding pros and cons. We set up a Private Limited company, got PAN, GST, and basic agreements in place. I wanted to look investor-ready and avoid messy conversions later.”

The ‘Will Figure It Out Later’ Founder; “Honestly, I haven’t registered anything yet. We’re just testing ideas, running everything on personal accounts, and keeping paperwork for ‘when we get serious.’”

The Jugaad Accountant; “I track expenses loosely — maybe in a diary, maybe in my head. I check my bank balance at the end of the month and make rough guesses about how long the money will last.”

The Excel Enthusiast; “I maintain spreadsheets for income, expenses, and projections. I review them monthly, make some corrections, and use them for basic decision-making.”

The CFO-at-Heart;“I have proper systems in place — accounting software, budget forecasts, cash flow statements, and even scenario planning (best case, worst case). I know my runway to the exact month and review it every week.”

The Firefighter Founder; “I usually deal with issues as they come. If something breaks, I jump in and fix it myself. It feels like a daily hustle — more about surviving than systemizing.”

The Checklist Captain; “I make sure we have simple systems — daily checklists, weekly reviews, SOPs. It’s not fancy, but it keeps things on track. When problems arise, we fall back on the process.”

The Process Geek; “I thrive on detailed workflows, dashboards, tracking tools. We measure everything — time, cost, output. It sometimes feels bureaucratic, but I’d rather be over-prepared than under.”

The Buddy Boss; “I keep things informal. Everyone’s like a friend. We joke, share food, pull long nights together. It feels like a family — sometimes too much like one.”

The Taskmaster; “I focus on roles, deadlines, and performance. If someone can’t keep up, I call it out straight. Work is work — I’m not running a daycare.”

The Balanced Builder; “I set clear expectations but also invest time in mentoring, celebrating small wins, and giving honest feedback. I’m not everyone’s best friend, but not a dictator either.”

The Hustle Seller; “I’ll chase anyone and everyone — friends, family, random contacts. I push hard, use discounts, call daily if needed. A sale is a sale!”

The Relationship Farmer; “I focus on building trust — understanding needs, giving time, even over-delivering initially. I believe in nurturing customers for repeat business, not just one-time wins.”

The Strategic Selector; “I’m picky about customers. I’d rather focus on a few who give real traction and credibility than chase everyone. Early wins must also make sense for my positioning.”

The Firefighter-in-Chief; “I jump in, fight the flames, make calls, and somehow pull off a miracle. Sleep, schedules, everything can wait — survival comes first.”

The Cool-headed Juggler; “I pause, take a breath, and assess options. Maybe deliver partial today, full tomorrow; maybe rope in a partner. I believe clarity beats panic.”

The Backup Believer; “I plan for worst-case scenarios beforehand. Extra suppliers, spare machinery, alternative routes — so when crisis hits, I activate Plan B without drama.”

The Feedback Sponge; “I listen to everything, absorb all comments, and rush to tweak the product. If ten people say different things, I try to please them all.”

The Thoughtful Filter; “I collect feedback, sort what aligns with my vision, and act on patterns rather than one-off suggestions. If 30% users point to the same issue, I prioritize it.”

The Vision-First Stubborn; “I hear feedback but stick to my original idea unless I’m 100% convinced. Customers don’t always know what they want — Henry Ford said, ‘If I asked people, they’d have wanted faster horses.’”

The Firefighter Boss; “I jump in personally whenever something breaks — from chasing the WiFi guy to fixing payroll delays. Nothing escapes me because I’m hands-on.”

The Delegation Pro; “I set up basic admin systems early — maybe a shared Google Drive, an HR intern, or a small ops team. I delegate, monitor, and step in only if it’s critical.”

The “Ignore It Till It Bites” Founder; “Admin isn’t my priority. I’d rather focus on product and customers. I deal with office and paperwork only when it becomes a roadblock.”

The Shoebox Accountant; “I just keep the bills in one file or, honestly, sometimes in a shoebox. Cash flow is in my head — I sort it out when the auditor asks, or when tax season threatens.”

The Spreadsheet Warrior; “I maintain an Excel or Google Sheet with expenses, receipts, and balances. Nothing fancy — just rows, columns, and occasional color coding. When needed, I reconcile with bank and UPI screenshots.”

The Mini-CFO Mode; “I’ve set up proper accounts — petty cash books, automated expense tracking, and regular reconciliations. Either I or a part-time accountant checks every week, so I always know my working capital status.”

The Jugad Juggler; “I keep things wherever they land — Google Drive, Dropbox, WhatsApp, Excel on my desktop, even pen drive if needed. It’s messy, but somehow, I find it when I need it.”

The Semi-Disciplined Saviour; “I’ve tried to organize — shared folders, password managers, some backups on the cloud. But honestly, it’s a mixed bag. Sometimes we’re disciplined, sometimes we just wing it.”

The Digital Fortress Builder; “We run things systematically — every file has a home, passwords are managed securely, backups are automatic, and we use tools like CRM or ERP to avoid chaos. IT is a backbone, not an afterthought.”

The WhatsApp Warrior; “Everything goes on one group. Updates, invoices, memes, even birthday wishes. If people miss something, well, scroll up!”

The Structured Broadcaster; “I set up channels: one for updates, one for tasks, one for clients. Emails for serious stuff, groups for chatter. People know where to look for what.”

The Silent Monk; “I don’t like too many updates. I tell people to figure it out unless it’s urgent. If they can’t manage, they’ll come to me.”

The Goldfish Mode; “We talk about it in the moment, maybe complain a bit, then move on. Six months later, someone repeats the same mistake, and it feels brand new again.”

The Diary Keeper; “We write things down — minutes, SOPs, or at least a shared Google Doc. It’s not fancy, but people can look back and avoid repeating old blunders.”

The Knowledge Farmer; “We document, review, and actively train from past experiences. Every mistake becomes a case study, every success a playbook. New staff get onboarded into this culture of shared learning.”