Build Your Business Like a Wargamer: Constructing Your Rocket Ship
Authored by: Dirk Vander Noot
January marks the beginning of new goals, fresh starts, and ambitious launches. If you've ever dabbled in astrophysics, rocket science, or just enjoy launching little green astronauts into space, you might be familiar with Kerbal Space Program. This game isn't just about building rockets, it’s full of lessons applicable to building and growing a business.
The Rocket Ship
Building a business is often compared to flying a plane, driving a car, or even sailing a ship. But one of my favorite analogies is that your business is like launching a rocket while still assembling it mid-flight. Let’s break down the core components of your entrepreneurial spacecraft.
The Command Module (Leadership): Just like a rocket needs a command module, your business needs a clear leader maintaining direction and ensuring all parts function together. Many founders struggle with stepping away from daily operations, but staying in the cockpit is essential to keep the business on course. If you’re constantly fixing engines or adjusting fuel levels, you’re not leading, you’re reacting. Set aside time each week to refocus on your goals and strategy.
The Fuel (Cash Flow): Rockets burn immense fuel to escape gravity. Likewise, your business requires capital to gain altitude. Balance cash flow by investing wisely. Too little, and you won’t reach orbit. Too much in the wrong place, and you burn out. Regularly assess bottlenecks and prioritize bottlenecks to allocate funds appropriately to eliminate constraints.
The Engines (Marketing & Sales): Engines generate the thrust that propels your business forward. Without effective marketing and sales, even the best product won’t take off. Every business has a unique trajectory so what works for one might not work for another. Test strategies, measure results, and optimize for sustainable momentum.
The Fuselage (Overhead): The framework that holds everything together. Too much weight slows progress, too little causes instability. Keep overhead lean with cost-efficient tools like CRMs and accounting software. Prioritize low-cost and scalable systems to prevent unnecessary drag on operations.
Interior Systems (Product/Service): The critical components inside your rocket ensure its functionality. Likewise, your product or service must operate smoothly. Poor quality leads to bad customer experiences that compromise the entire mission. No amount of sales or marketing can save a flawed offering.
The Payload (Vision): The ultimate purpose of your business. Every component exists to deliver this to its destination. A clearly defined vision keeps you on course, prevents distractions, and provides measurable success benchmarks. Without it, even a well-built rocket risks aimless drifting and crashing back into earth.
Keep Building and Shoot for the Moon!
In Kerbal Space Program, rockets rarely launch perfectly on the first try. The same is true in business. Many owners don’t have the luxury of a long pre-launch phase or endless capital. Instead, they refine and adapt post-launch, making real-time adjustments to keep moving upward.
As we set our sights on ambitious goals, remember: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars." — Norman Vincent Peale. Keep refining your systems, adjusting your trajectory, and building your rocket ship one stage at a time.
