Why I Shutdown My Startup

Guilherme Stetelle Martins is an engineer turned software sales professional. He’s been in Software Sales his entire career from BDR to Enterprise AE. He’s also had a lot of failures that have taught him a lot about life and business, including his company he founded and shut down in early 2024. He also writes frequently about business, life and his projects on LinkedIn. Guilherme joins John McMahon and John Kaplan to discuss his experience as a startup founder and the lessons he learned from shutting down his company. Guilherme shares his journey from being an engineer to entering the world of software sales. He explains why he decided to start his own company and the challenges he faced along the way. The conversation dives into the importance of timing, the energy required to be an entrepreneur, and the distinction between being a patriot and a mercenary. Guilherme emphasizes the need for self-reflection and understanding one's own motivations and limitations. Tune in and learn more about this episode of The Revenue Builders Podcast. HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT [00:12:50] Slow success builds character, while fast success builds ego. [00:18:42] The importance of understanding the challenges and risks involved in starting a company. [00:30:07] The distinction between being a patriot and a mercenary and the impact it has on commitment and success. [00:32:45] The value of being transparent and honest with oneself and others throughout the entrepreneurial journey. [00:37:27] The significance of timing in entrepreneurship and personal life decisions. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Learn more about aligning customer-facing teams to improve execution: https://forc.mx/48o1jyP Connect and learn more about Guilherme Stetelle Martins. https://www.linkedin.com/in/guilhermestetelle/ Here's the link to the Shutdown Article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-shut-down-my-startup-here-journey-guilherme-stetelle-martins-zpfpf/ HIGHLIGHT QUOTES [01:00:10] "The credit belongs to the men and women who are actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who airs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming. But who does actually strive to do the deeds, who knows? Great enthusiasm, great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause?" [01:01:03] "It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the men and women who are actually in the arena."