June is usually a busy month, I find myself deep in travel, contract negotiations, and building 2H reports and EBRs for myself and my clients. I had, when I started Momenthesis, done everything myself out of necessity, a lone wolf, as it were. Around this time last year, client work was ramping up, and I struggled to keep up. I paused the newsletter, went to the gym less. While the term ‘lone wolf’ used in a professional setting is often romanticized as someone incredibly skilled to handle all aspects of a startup, it is also an easy way to burnout.

But similar to the literal term, while there are some advantages to being a lone wolf, it tends to be a very temporary thing, even in nature. Wolves are naturally pack animals, so lone wolves are either looking to join or build a new pack or will perish. Fortunately, this June, as the work ramps up, I now have a team I can work with, a wolfpack that I can depend on.

In business there are pros and cons to each:

Pros:

Lone Wolf	Wolfpack
Single owner of decision making. Independence in schedule, direction, priorities (flexibility). Speed and agility to get stuff done.	Support system of experts, shared responsibility. Adds new ideas, prospectives and options. Effective teamwork to tackle larger opportunities. Ability to train the next generation.

Cons:

Lone Wolf	Wolfpack
Fixed about of time available, solution delivery  is limited. Limitations on expertise, reduced ideation abilities. Single point of failure, no backup options.	Dissemination of information can slow agreement and alignment. Potential conflict in priorities and goals.

Choosing your pack takes some effort and a bit of luck, but when I was ready, I had a short list of those I felt would fit seamlessly into my workstyle and ethos. I always planned to expand Momenthesis and had blueprints and templates set up to onboard new team members. I mapped out the areas I had less interest or motivation to deal with and aligned it to people in my network that could excel in them. I wanted to surround myself with people I knew that added or multiplied my capabilities, so 1 + 1 = 3.

There’s plenty of research that shows diverse teams solve problems faster and more creatively than individuals. But beyond the data, there’s something even more powerful: the energy of a team that trusts and shares the same passion with each other. That’s the kind of momentum we build at Momenthesis. A few things to consider when working with a team:

1. Shared Responsibilities: As Founder and CEO, I ultimately am on the line for the success of the company, but I must delegate. At the same time, I also need to be open to input and perspectives the team offer, as I deliberately surrounded myself with people smarter than me to learn and grow.
2. Develop and use a support network: Regular check-ins with the team ensure work is moving and no one is struggling. My EBRs are a chance to get advice on things I’m struggling with, to help find solutions to difficult problems. It’s also a chance to highlight successes and keep the pack motivated.
3. Commit to reasonable boundaries: Use the team to keep you honest. Down time is blocked off on the calendar and respected, planned holidays are shared to support each other while the time is used properly to recharge.

Being seen as a lone wolf might seem cool and awe-inspiring, but successful individuals often have a whole team behind them. Lone wolves burn out; wolf packs thrive. If you’re part of a company that has become insular and struggle to ideate a strong go-to-market strategy, let Momenthesis be part of your wolfpack.