I don’t know the secret to starting a great company. I am not sure there is one. But a few things that helped me starting out:
1. Picking a few constraints. They fueled my creativity. My first one: pick an idea that even if it fails, I’ll be proud of it.
1. Picking a few constraints. They fueled my creativity. My first one: pick an idea that even if it fails, I’ll be proud of it.
2. Accepting that 90% of people will think your idea is either impossible or sucks. Great ideas always seem impossible at first.
3. Finding 2 people (in case one is busy) who have already been there and who you can talk the hard stuff through with (and are willing to help). For me: @WilliamsonMark and @mlz
4. Having a great therapist. Seriously. You’re crazy not to have one.
5. Optimizing investors for good people rather than price or firm.
6. Deciding what we had to be great at. It changes, but is so helpful for focus. Don’t worry about the rest (when we started, I spent hours looking at payroll systems — that was a waste). Thank you @clintmania for making me do this exercise early on!
7. You’re going to feel that you’re doing a horrible job. Then something good will happen and you’ll feel the greatest feeling you’ve ever felt professionally. Get used to it. Will happen weekly.
8. Get lunch with your board members once a month. There should never be any surprises in a board meeting.
9. Your job as CEO will change every few months. No one will tell you that or when.
10. Life is better when you and your team are optimistic. Even when stuff is really hard. That doesn't mean ignore the hard stuff. Recognize it. Make a plan. Then be optimistic.
