33 Startup Lessons from the Crypt
#1: Don’t guess. Measure everything.
#2: Firing people is difficult, but your startup comes first. Do it quickly.
#3: Make decisions by consensus, but also make sure that everyone knows you’re the boss and have the final say.
#4: The only thing that matters is your product. Focus on making it great.
#5: Your future depends on traction. Don’t wait for users to come to you. Go and recruit them one by one.
#6: Development speed is everything. Keep your initial product simple so you can ship and fix problems quickly.
#7: Startups are hard. Inspire your team to achieve the impossible.
#8: Your number one objective is revenue. Don’t get distracted by hype. No money, no Honey.
#9: Listen to experts, but trust your intuition.
#10: Prepare yourself. Don’t underestimate the amount of grunt work required to build something that is lasting.
#11: To launch a tech startup is fundamentally a leap of faith. The odds are against you. Don’t think, Do.
#12: Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Most startups inherit the strengths and weaknesses of their founders.
#13: Stop thinking, Stop learning, Start doing. Keep doing until it works out. If it works out. It might not.
#14: You can never be 100% ready. Just start.
#15: You’re old. You have no capital. You will fail. Ignore the naysayers. Trust your instinct.
#16: Perseverance is faith. You got to believe to keep on going. Keep the faith.
#17: Iterate continuously until you get it right.
#18: Whether you’re raising money, getting a user to sign up or seeking talent, everyone likes a good story.
#19: What separates you and success is the bullshit you tell yourself about why you can’t achieve it.
#20: The easiest thing to do when things aren’t working is to give up. Don’t, make it happen.
#21: Hire slowly and fire quickly.
#22: Customer service is key. Always try to please. It will propel you ahead of the competition.
#23: Funding is important, but the real funders are the marketplace and your customers.
#24: Choosing investors is like marriage. Pick an investor that will be a den mother & cheerleader.
#25: Nobody Is Going to Steal Your Startup Idea. Share it.
#26: Find Mentors. Love your Mentors. Engage your Mentors.
#27: Build a team that complements your skills and personality.
#28: Entrepreneurs love to talk. Learn to listen to your customers, staff, mentors and investors.
#29: Forget business plans. Its a bunch of untested guesses. Get validation from customers.
#30: The details are not just details. They make the product.
#31: Good sales equals good conversation. Find ways to talk with your customers.
#32: When selling your product don’t sell “what” you do, but “why” you do it.
#33: Entrepreneurs that Do vs. those that Don’t? Simple: Persistence and resilience to get there.
