Level 1 (referential, or epistemic): Generating a business plan and financial projections as an integral part of the process by which you decide whether your startup is worth trying.
Level 2 (lying): Publicizing a business plan you don’t expect to carry out, to obscure your secret plan to pivot to something that would undercut existing power, so they don’t crush you immediately.
Level 3 (relating): Coming up with a business plan so you feel like a Real Business, and feel less impostor anxiety, and then feeling a need to rationalize whatever future decisions you make as somehow Part of the Plan.
Level 4 (magical): Coming up with a business plan and financial projections because that’s something venture capitalists want, and no one thinks that anyone else cares whether the plan is literally true or even possible, it’s just one of the theatrical hoops you gotta jump through for the vibe to feel right.
Level 1 (referential, or epistemic): Generating a business plan and financial projections as an integral part of the process by which you decide whether your startup is worth trying.
Level 2 (lying): Publicizing a business plan you don’t expect to carry out, to obscure your secret plan to pivot to something that would undercut existing power, so they don’t crush you immediately.
Level 3 (relating): Coming up with a business plan so you feel like a Real Business, and feel less impostor anxiety, and then feeling a need to rationalize whatever future decisions you make as somehow Part of the Plan.
Level 4 (magical): Coming up with a business plan and financial projections because that’s something venture capitalists want, and no one thinks that anyone else cares whether the plan is literally true or even possible, it’s just one of the theatrical hoops you gotta jump through for the vibe to feel right.