Chapter 7 Breakdown: Stage Gates — The Ultimate Startup Filter
Series: Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. Reflections | Author: Brent Parker, Resilience Repurposed LLC
🚪 Welcome to Chapter 7 of the Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. Reflections Series
Too many entrepreneurs get stuck on dead-end ideas simply because they never ask the hard questions. In Chapter 7, Colin Campbell introduces the concept of “stage gates” — milestone checkpoints that help you decide when to keep going, pivot, or shut it down.
In this breakdown, you’ll learn how to design your own stage gates, why most goals fail, and how to create progress checkpoints that keep your startup on track.
📌 What Is a Stage Gate?
Stage gates are specific, measurable milestones that determine whether your business idea should move to the next phase. They keep you honest, focused, and agile (Campbell, 2023).
✅ Good vs. Bad Stage Gates
Bad Example: “We want to have a global customer base.”
Sounds impressive, but it’s vague, immeasurable, and unrealistic for a new company.
Good Example: “Achieve $10,000 in monthly recurring revenue by the end of Q4 through Miami-based sales.”
This goal is specific, time-bound, relevant, and trackable.
🎯 Five Criteria for a Real Stage Gate
- Specific: What exactly are you trying to achieve?
- Measurable: Can you track your progress?
- Achievable: Is this realistic with your current resources?
- Relevant: Does it align with your business’s current phase?
- Time-bound: Is there a deadline?
🧭 Stage Gates Create Focus and Breathing Room
Campbell says stage gates aren’t just about accountability — they also give you permission to pause, reflect, and recalibrate. They reduce burnout by giving structure to your chaos.
💡 Final Takeaway:
Chapter 7 gives you a filter for decision-making. Don’t wait until you’ve sunk months of time and energy to ask if it’s working. Use stage gates early, and let them guide your path forward.
🎉 Section A Complete — What’s Next?
We’ve covered the foundation: story, people, money, and systems. Coming next: Section B, where we scale those foundations. Get ready for in-depth explorations of growth, team building, and media strategy.
💬 Share Your Stage Gate
What’s one stage gate you’re implementing right now? Share it with me on LinkedIn @Brent Parker and let’s compare checkpoints.
📚 References (APA Style)
Campbell, C. C. (2023). Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. Wiley.
