I always advise new grads with entrepreneurial dreams to go work for a small company. Since there are so few people, you will have the opportunity to learn about every aspect of the business. I learned tech writing because English was my first language and I could touch type (this was 1987 when no one had a PC). I learned marketing because they needed an engineer to help with the marketing message. I learned project management because they lost a PM and I had just shipped a project and hadn’t ramped up on the next. I learned to do time studies and production fixture design because I was one of 2 engineers (electrical, but that can translate to industrial and mechanical, right? Right).

Forget the big companies. All you really learn there is how not to get fired. If you plan on becoming an expert in one very narrow subject, a big company is a great place. All the other stuff is being done by someone else.

Of course, working for yourself is the best. You learn it all or go out of business trying. And that just means you learn some really hard lessons that you take to the next project.

Based on my experience, the attributes and skills you need to be successful at a big company are fundamentally different than those you need as an entrepreneur. In a startup, you’re always working with imperfect information and the ground you’re standing on is constantly moving. Given this, the key to success is the ability to size up the constantly changing situation, learn new skills accordingly and adapt. These simply aren’t skills you learn in a big company…in fact, the ability to do this is the reason that startups are able to win against these companies, despite the fact that they’re larger, more established and better funded.

The short answer is YES, I think it’s going to help working for a big company BEFORE opening your own shop.

There is so much half-baked ideas out there that people use as a foundation to mortgage their house and siphon credit cards to LAUNCH their dream. They mean well, but need more experience that a big company brings.

It’s good to work for a big company ESPECIALLY if you are already plotting your strategy for your next business venture (no stealing, though). This will give you piercing insight into an otherwise murky world of setting your own business (financial statements, budgets, accounting).

I believe that the online world and entrepreneurship go hand-in-hand. You need a fluid environment to change direction or evolve your product or service, based on the needs of your consumers. Big companies can’t do this. You have to have paperwork submitted, approved, signed off on, and budgeted before any changes happen. A small company has already made 3 different changes in course by the time this one change is implemented.

What Happened To Mentors?
Big companies used to offer mentors, but more often these days, the boss has no time for his/her employees so you’re not learning anything from him/her except that “Title” matters. Startups don’t have titles; you do as much as possible to grow the company. And I think that’s where the learning happens. You fail; you succeed; you evolve – personally and professionally.

-my 2 cents – worked for both corporate and startups

You say “there’s no need for politics in a start-up culture.” I’d say there’s no way to avoid politics in ANY culture. Otherwise disagreements lead to blow-outs and sow the seeds of failure.

The art of politics includes knowing when and how to disagree within the culture that already exists. It means learning how to be straight without being insulting. It definitely doesn’t mean kissing butt.

I’ve worked in a 3-person sales office, a 15-person agency and gigantic (I don’t even know the number) corporation. I’m now in the process of starting my own business.

Absolutely 100% of the lessons I’m taking with me came from the smaller businesses, which allowed me to learn more, be more involved and connect more. Corporate culture just doesn’t encourage rapid growth.

So, to add my own why-work-for-a-small-co/startup list to your already smart entry:
1) You learn not only your own craft, but a variety of disciplines. Want to get involved in sales? Help with accounting? The one-person sales team or accounting team would probably love the help.

While in corporate culture, you’re often shut out of things that aren’t inside your little specialization box, in small companies, you can learn alternate skill sets, as long as you don’t drop any of the balls you’re responsible for.

2) You connect with smart entrepreneurial folks. These are the folks who will own their own businesses or continue to climb in really interesting careers and companies. And you’ve already proved your worth with these self-starters, so when it comes time to do business together, done and done.

I know I still work with and alongside people from my agency years. And I’m always impressed by their newest learnings, positions and ideas.

3) You have a front-row seat to the scary parts of starting your own business. You’re not jumping in unprepared after watching the big, inefficient corporate machine continue to chug along. Instead, you’ve watched the hard times, the good times, the decisions the CEO or senior management makes, etc. They’re not hiding it from you. And you can learn from their successes and mistakes.

Thanks for posting this!