Thread by @tayvano_

Things I wish I knew in Q1 2017 aka that period of time right before the bull run changes everything forever.

1. Hire people now. All of them. Smart, eager, talented, multi-hat wearing, independent. Hire people you like and hire people you respect that think differently than you. Shits about to get 1000x crazier.

2. When offered money, say thank you and put it in your pocket. If you end up not needing it, pass it along to those who need it. (You will probably need it though. Cycles cycle.)

Taking capital when it's cheap is smart, not greedy.

3. Get a therapist that fits you and helps you. If the first one doesn't fit, try the second one on the list. Prioritize it. Don't ever let yourself cancel a session. You are not strong enough and no one wants to hear your unproductive bitching.

4. Aim for 10:1 ratio of positive:negative. When too negative, seek out positive. If you can't, change your situation. Think about hiring or finding a replacement or leaning more on those around you buy crying is unproductive after a few mins & never productive in public.

5. Money doesn't change people, it enhances their existing traits. If youre having issues with someone or something now, it's going to get 1000x worse until you change it. Since you can't change others, change your situation.

(Don't waste time trying to change others.)

6. You're allowed to be selfish if it ultimately makes you better and therefore makes the people around you better. Having a baby made this blatantly clear—forced me to be more selfish, in fact—but it's true for everyone all the time.

7. People respect you most when you have a crystal clear ask.

Don't expect anyone to do anything for you unless you ask. If you expect, you'll only be disappointed and filled with resent.

8. Don't hire for what you want your company to be in the future if you can't handle growth today. It'll waste everyone's time and money. Hire those people once you aren't hopping around half dead. For now, hire firefighters who are good multitaskers and *don't start more fires*

9. You can't be 100% reactive and you can't be 100% proactive. You have to balance your focus between now and the future.

10. Prioritize hiring people to do the shit you don't like doing, even if you "should" do it or are good at doing it or it's not that big of a deal. Freeing *any* mindspace or time is worth doing.

11. If you hire someone and your life, time, and mindspace isn't significantly better in 3 weeks, let them go.

No one should add overhead and onboarding should be easier and more thoughtless than recruiting and deciding to hire them was.

12. Worrying about what others think of you is unproductive. Don't waste your energy pretending you know what you're doing because you don't. Also, no one does. Deep bonds form with those you share exp. with, not those you wear a mask for.

13. It hurts when people lose money using your product.

It'll hurt even worse when shit calms down bc youll have grown so much youll know exactly how it could've been prevented.

Carry it, learn from it, but don't let it carry you down.

14. When you hit 110% and are burnt out and at your limit, you're only 25% of the way there.

You can't do it alone.

15. Hire weirdos, rebels and questioners. It'll make you stronger. But know when to put your foot down and lead everyone forward instead of circling around bullshit no one will ever agree on.

16. No one knows everything you know and they cant either bc then they would be you. If they won't be convinced of your decision in <15-30 min, focus on making them feel heard and empower elsewhere—don't waste your time discussing the decision beyond that if you won't change it.

17. Every time you win, you win because of your team. Every time you lose, you lose because of you.

You exist to empower and take in their shittiest shit. Your therapist exists to take your shittiest shit. Don't confuse your team or friends or fam with your therapist.

18. Never book a flight or Airbnb without checking WiFi first. Hackers hack and shit breaks when you go offline. Therefore, don't go offline.

Also, get a loud ass ringtone and invest in a great bag for your laptop, 2 phones, and battery packs.

19. Bull run babies are born in a bear market. You'll be more than fine. (If it won't be fine, dont miss your bc refill appt. 😉)

20. Don't upgrade to the new touchbar mbp. Get another retina instead.