Lean Startup Mistakes That Destroy You Early On

Steven Zinsli knows what startup mistakes are like. He launched his first startup business at 22, later starting Extraordinary, a fast-growing company transforming employee benefits across New Zealand and Australia. In this Episode, Steven shares:⬜ Early startup mistakes and lessons learned.⬜ How Extraordinary evolved and succeeded.⬜ Building networks and a personal brand.⬜ Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.Episode Sponsor: www.podcastguest.co.nzTimestamp00:00 –Intro02:02 – Growing up with discipline and resilience04:05 – Why founders must love winning | Entrepreneurial mindset explained06:45 – How to start a business after university in New Zealand | 08:15 – First healthcare startup at 22 | Lessons learned from early mistakes09:27 – How to validate startup ideas with customers10:06 – Pivoting a failed idea into success | Startup adaptability and investor feedback14:26 – Building a scalable business model | From healthcare to extraordinary card16:14 – How to get honest investor feedback 17:22 – Scaling to 220+ corporate clients in NZ and Australia18:38 – Pros and cons of being a solo founder20:57 – How to find early investors in New Zealand | Networking and building trust22:39 – Business networking tips | How to grow relationships with investors & advisors26:35 – Why brand building matters for startups | Personal and business branding tips28:52 – Personal brand strategy for entrepreneurs 30:16 – B2B sales strategy in New Zealand | How to land enterprise clients33:21 – How events help you close business deals | Using speakers and experiences34:58 – Startup founder challenges | How to survive discomfort and hard times36:21 – Advice for 22-year-old entrepreneurs | Why experience before a startup helps40:21 – Understanding fiscal buying cycles | Key dates for startup sales strategy42:00 – Customer obsession in startups | Why founders must stay close to customers45:17 – Best way to raise startup capital47:26 – Choosing the right investors | More than just money in capital partnerships49:24 – Why entrepreneurs must think big | Bold mindset for billion-dollar companies50:25 – Biggest mistakes in business | Cash flow, contracts, and financial oversight51:34 – Best decisions in business | Avoiding business death and choosing survival53:33 – Top 3 lessons every entrepreneur must learn | Team, numbers, contracts55:41 – Speed vs slow decisions in business | When to act fast or hold back59:01 – Best industries for entrepreneurs in New Zealand 1:00:26 – Why passion fuels startups | Personal backstory driving extraordinary card1:01:03 – Scaling from New Zealand to global markets1:01:47 – Where to connect with Steven Zinsli | LinkedIn and extraordinary websiteFollow me: LinkedIn: linkin.bio/minaamsoFollow Steven:Website:https://www.extraordinarypay.com/Listen on: Apple podcast: https://shorturl.at/UkJ8vSpotify: https://shorturl.at/YW7bXWatch latest episodes:https://shorturl.at/zpgv5Episode Sponsor: www.podcastguest.co.nz