I would be lying if I said I didn’t make any mistakes on my startup journey, but I wouldn’t change those mistakes. They’ve helped me learn and grow as an entrepreneur, and they’ve definitely taught me some important lessons, even more so than some of my accomplishments. Mistakes and misjudgments are inevitable, but it’s how you respond to those mistakes and overcome them that ultimately matters. One thing I wish I would have known before starting my company is that mistakes are definitely going to happen, but that it’s okay because those mistakes teach you the most important startup lesson: Be adaptable.

I have been on the receiving end of the phrase, “Well, you didn’t know what you didn’t know” many times, and it’s natural to feel frustration and even regret after mistakes play out with negative consequences. And while it’s important to recognize your mistakes, it’s even more imperative not to dwell on them or harbor negativity. Optimism is so vital to the entrepreneur psyche, and spending too much time thinking about adverse decisions can hinder creativity and the ability to adapt. When an entrepreneur doesn’t have the ability to adapt quickly, it can obstruct the growth of a business.

Not only is it important for an entrepreneur to be adaptable, but it’s equally necessary to surround yourself with a team that’s amenable to change and can switch directions quickly. There are many things I wish I knew before starting my business, but one of them is that people with experience aren’t always the right fit, especially in a rapidly changing industry like sports technology. While experience can be an asset in many cases, I would take skill and intelligence over someone with experience. The startup environment can be rocky, and one that’s full of surprises. When selecting your team, go with your gut and choose people who fit the vision you have for your company. Don’t choose people simply because they have experience.

When hiring, I focus on finding employees who are ambitious, creative, and flexible. People who have a this-is-the-way-it’s-always-worked mentality are definitely not a fit for my company and likely won’t be a fit for most startups. When forming the foundation for a new team, employees need to be open to new ideas. I find that young employees are more adaptable because they have grown up in an environment that is constantly changing, much like startup environments.

In business, there is something I call “the known unknown,” which is an understanding that unforeseen events and variables are part of the rough terrain of the modern business landscape—all you can do is be prepared and adapt quickly.

要说在创业过程中没犯过错，那绝对是在撒谎，但我并不想去改正这些错误。因为它们帮助我成长为一名创业者，并且让我学到了许多重要的教训。其重要性甚至超过了我取得的某些成就。错误和判断失误是不可避免的，重要的是你如何应对并克服这些错误。我希望自己在创业之前就已经知道，错误是不可避免的，犯错没什么大不了，因为这些错误将让你学到创业过程中最重要的一课：具有适应能力。

一直都有人对我说，“你不知道自己不知道什么。”在错误造成负面后果之后，我们自然而然地会感觉沮丧甚至后悔。承认自己的错误诚然很重要，但更重要的是，不要去细想那些错误或者长期抱有负面情绪。乐观是创业精神中重要的一部分，而花费太多时间考虑曾经的错误决定，会影响创造力和适应力。如果一位创业者不能让自己很快适应新的情况，就会阻碍公司的发展。

不仅创业者自己要有适应能力，你周围的团队也应该能接受变化，可以迅速改变方向。我希望自己在创业之前能够早知道许多事情，其中一件事是，有经验的人不见得是团队的最佳人选，尤其是在快速变化的行业，例如运动科技行业。虽然在许多情况下，经验都是宝贵的资产，但我更愿意看中一个人的技能和理解力，而不是经验。初创公司的环境异常艰难，充满了各种意外。在选择团队成员时，要相信自己的直觉，选择那些契合公司愿景的人。不要单纯因为一个人有经验而将其招致麾下。

在招聘时，我会重点寻找那些有雄心、有创造力和灵活的员工。如果有人抱着墨守成规的心态，这种人肯定不适合我的公司，甚至也不适合多数初创公司。在组建新团队的基本框架时，员工需要能够以开放的心态接受新想法。我发现，年轻员工的适应能力更强，因为他们生长的环境一直在变化，与初创公司的环境类似。

在商界，我把某些事情称为“已知的未知”，也就是说要懂得，不可预测的事件和变数，是残酷的现代商业环境的一部分——你需要做好准备，迅速让自己适应各种变化。（财富中文网）

作者安东尼·卡茨为Hyperice公司创始人。

译者：刘进龙/汪皓

审校：任文科