Over the past few weeks, I have been heads down focusing on getting my new project funded, getting the tech team moving in the right direction, and getting customers. All with an eye towards launch. Its a fun, frustrating and exciting time. Its what makes startups fun.

But in the midst of all this hubbub, a simple pattern is emerging.

When you look at the lifecycle of a startup, there are really three major parts: The Build Up, The Execution and The Exit. Of course, you can read plenty of articles and books that provide a deeper and more complex view, but I am just not that complex.

The Build Up

The beginning, the start. This is often the most exciting part of a startup. New ideas are flowing daily; new challenges are uncovered. Everyone is excited for the future, and what will be. No one is predicting change or failure, just how awesome the company will be. Its easy to become engaged with the energy, since you are pitching investors, building product, sketching out financial models.

The Execution

A friend of mine once laid out where a company should be based on the rounds raised: Series A – you should have an idea, and the focus should be on building the product. Get it out into the world in a limited fashion, birth that baby. Series B – you should be out in the marketplace, and the marketplace should be screaming what needs to be changed, what they love, whats wrong about the product. Series C – you should be making revenue, and need money to accelerate growth. All future financing rounds sort of fit in this model. They should help an already successful company grow.

There comes a point (usually after the product has been brought to market, and just before revenue is generated in large amounts, where the focus of the company shifts from The Build Up into an Execution Phase. This is where a company goes from a nice valuation of $20-$30mm to (hopefully) something really big. Its where the pudding is proved. Its where the hypothesis of what factors will drive the company have been uncovered, and all that is necessary is execution. Execute and an outcome will become clear.

The Exit

This is either the dream or nightmare of the entrepreneur. Either the company gets big enough to be acquired or IPO and returns a positive return to all investors and the entrepreneur. Or it dies. But something happens.

And, for many companies, this is approximately a 5 year cycle, and requires 3-4 rounds of financing.

Simple right?

But, what became clear to me over the past week is that there is a Law of Mini-Cycles:

Each specific goal in the lifecycle of a business encompasses all three phases.

Think about it. Each time a goal is set “Launch on December 1″ there is a buildup, execution and exit.

Lets lay it out.

Goal: Launch December 1

Build up: What does the product look like? What are the features? What is the team that is needed? Who are the customers that are needed?

Execution: Outline the product timeline with features and tasks. Review team needs and hire as necessary. Acquire customers and beta testers.

Exit: Launch. Or dont.

And etc…

What does that mean to your business? Perhaps nothing, but for me, it allows me to understand the phase I am in, and when its time for me to bail out of the way. I am not great in the execution phase, so I allow those that are to shine. I am great in the build up, so I spend most of my time laying the ground work for the project. I understand where my strengths lie, and dont allow my weaknesses to get in the way of success.

Frankly, this minicycle works with most decisions. I think about an interesting blog post (Build Up); I write it (Execution); Its gets a good response, or it doesnt (Exit).

Thinking about my project holistically as a series of smaller activities that have their own lifecycle allows me to eat an elephant and help us be successful.

Now back to bit of Execution…

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