Startups can learn from the big players and create powerful playbooks of their own

We all know those giants of the business world that just seem to do things better and more innovatively than anyone else - think Apple and Google to name just two. Yet, as startups, there is so much that can be learned from these big players, and many approaches and ways of doing things that can be incorporated into our own businesses. For example, when it comes to creating brands and business cultures that employees want to be part of, then companies like Google are the masters, incorporating fun into everyday work life. As small businesses, we can also look at ways of creating company cultures and atmospheres that are fun to be part of, including making work spaces less boring and more creative places to spend time in. Another key learning from the Apples and Googles of this world is to keep our business thinking open to new possibilities and opportunities, always keeping it fresh by being open to diversification or new ways of doing things - this is particularly key when markets or technologies change and customers demand new products and services. Learning from the big players, the trick is not to be scared to step into a new industry or try something new, just because it’s different. We might be tempted to think that, as startups, we have nothing in common with these huge companies in the global marketplace, but the fact is that there are always lessons to be learned from any big company that is hugely successful and innovative.