At the end of last year I decided it was time to change course in my career and get back to what I love doing. 

The past six weeks has given me the time and perspective to reflect on my very unconventional career and discover the common threads that have lead to various opportunities and experiences since I launched my first business in 2006. 

Over the years I have started everything from a car detailing business, a gym, a real estate portal, a marina development, technology consultancy, even an “adult products” web site. Why? I love the the process of designing and executing new business ventures. 

For me, the process of developing a business goes back to my childhood obsession with Lego. I would spend hours tinkering away building models of cars and spaceships, which I would proudly display on my bookshelf. Rarely did I use the instructions, I always wanted to build what was in my imagination, I wanted to build the spaceship I dreamt about with the oversized wings and rocket launchers. 

Watching the excitement building for the start of the 2016 Formula One season got me thinking and making comparisons between Formula One and my other passion, Startups.

Watching the way teams go about a race weekend has many similarities to the daily challenges of running a startup. You also see the impact of varying levels of funding and technical ability, together with constant need to manage PR and the expectations of fans.

Here are some F1 insights that you can apply to your startup.