Inspired by Clement Clarke Moore’s classic poem, a founder’s journey, reimagined with a twist.
'Twas the month before Christmas and all through my head,
A start-up was stirring, bold visions I'd bred.
The pitch deck half-written, the roadmap unclear.
But the spark in my belly? That much was sincere.
In the age of the solo, the hustle, the grind,
Where branding is personal, curated, refined.
I clutched my idea like a dragon guards gold,
Afraid it would vanish the moment I told.
“Don’t share it,” I whispered, “they’ll steal it, you’ll see.
They’ll run off with glory, the cash, and the fee.”
But silence, I found, is a double-edged sword.
No feedback, no funding, no hands on the board.
The pressure was mounting, both wallet and pride,
While media success stories danced in my mind.
“Three years,” said a contact, “to build something sound.”
“Three years?” I scoffed. “I’ll do it in one round.”
But who do you trust when the stakes feel so high?
When the market moves fast and the margins are sly.
Advisors? NEDs? Or a friend who’s sincere?
Who’ll guide you with insight, not echo your ear.
You can draw an NDA if that helps you sleep,
But don’t let your brilliance stay buried too deep.
For how will you know if your product will land,
Without honest voices, or testing first-hand?
You’ll need someone savvy to challenge your pitch,
To spot where it wobbles, or where it could switch.
You’ll need warm introductions, a network that grows,
And someone who’s walked it, who actually knows.
This festive season, unwrap something new.
A mindset of sharing, of letting folks through.
Your idea is precious, but so is the crew.
Who’ll help you to shape it and see the thing through.
Holding too tightly might stifle your flame.
Real growth takes courage, not fortune or fame.
So share with intention, not scatter and spray,
Trust in the power of a Collectively Better way.