“Getting It”
Rick Marini on startups, entrepreneurship, and being great at your job
At Tradecraft, we use the term “Getting It” in our everyday vernacular. While lacking a formal definition, it’s a phrase we intuitively “get” (apologies for the pun), and it’s made our way into daily jokes, regrets, and celebrations. It roughly translates to being an awesome team player, asking intelligent questions, and going the extra mile; basically being someone that others look at and think, “Wow, so-and-so really gets it!’
So when Rick Marini came in last week to help us better “get it,” we knew his advice would be worth heeding. Rick is a serial entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in the consumer internet space. He is the founder and CEO of BranchOut and Talk.co, prior to which he founded SuperFan and Tickle. In addition, Rick currently serves as an investor or advisor to more than 35 companies.
In the spirit of getting it, I’d like to share some of the generous advice that Rick shared with us from years of hard-earned lessons in the tech industry:
What are startups looking for in a hire?
At Tradecraft, we tend to be startup-oriented. Rick shared the skinny on what startups look for in a hire:
1. Attitude. A can-do attitude is the #1 asset to any startup — manifest a desire to take on and learn more and more.
2. Intelligence. Note: attitude trumps intelligence.
3. Integrity. Do what is right, even when it is difficult.
4. Fun. Be the person with high energy who’s social, buys others drinks, and is likeable enough for others to want to be stuck at an airport with you.
Startups look to hire for attitude, intelligence, integrity, & fun. (Click to tweet).
Interestingly, experience is not one of the Top 4 traits. I imagine that some level of specific abilities will be required depending on the role, but it seems that what is more important is that you’re the person everyone wants on their team. It’s striking that we’ve now heard 2 successful entrepreneurs rank attitude as #1 and not mention experience. Folks, it’s real.
How much equity should you get at a startup?
How much equity you get depends on the stage at which you join the startup, the role you have, and the appetite of the Founders and/or Board for giving out equity.
Focus on whether it’s the right role. Don’t over-negotiate the equity grant upfront. Instead, ask the founder at the outset if you can review the equity grant in X months based on your performance. Founders want a team member who’s performing well and will likely be happy to reward you with more equity if you are.
What should you do once you get the job?
When you start at a new company, listen more than you talk. Let your ideas gestate for a while before you blurt them out. Those who have been at the company for a while have likely already thought about most of your ideas, so avoid wasting their time. At some point, you’ll have gained more experience and you can start sharing more.
How can you direct your career?
1. Find mentors. Rick had some great tips for approaching mentors and valuing their time:
- When you reach out to a potential mentor, don’t say, “Can I pick your brain?” (People don’t have spare brain they want to hand out to random strangers). It’s much more appealing if you ask, “You’ve been in this space for 15 years. Can I get advice on [a particular topic / issue]?”
- If you ask someone to coffee, pay for their coffee. (Of course!) Their time is worth much more than a few dollars, but the gesture shows you appreciate them.
- When someone gives you advice, send them a thank you note. Ideally, a hand-written one. These are thoughtful and memorable.
- Don’t disappear after getting someone’s advice. Let them know where you ended up. They invested time in you; the least you can do is let them know how things turned out.
2. Get your foot in the door. If you’re hoping to switch career paths, join a startup with a role you already have expertise in. Since startups are a great place to wear multiple hats, you can then transition to a new role.
3. It’s a small valley. Don’t be self-centered or arrogant. (That would, indeed, be the opposite of “getting it”). Build a reputation for helping your friends and being a good person.
So you wanna be an entrepreneur?
Rick reflected on some essential perspective to maintain if you want to be an entrepreneur:
- This shit is hard. If you want to be an entrepreneur and haven’t been one before, join an early-stage company (Series A or B funded) with a great founder and learn from him or her without taking on all of the stress and risk. Too many people jump in without being ready.
- As a non-technical founder, you have to find your technical soulmate. You do that through networking and by finding people who have the same passions and vision as you do. Your co-founder must be someone you trust, and you have to bring something to the table to match their contribution on the technical side.
- Silicon Valley is not reality. The bad stuff that happens here is that Techcrunch writes a bad article about you, not that you actually die in a war. We’re incredibly fortunate to be at the epicenter of technology that’s remaking the world. There are over 1,000 startups in SoMa and companies like Google and Yahoo! just down the peninsula. No matter what, remember how lucky we are.
And in all things you do, be hungry, humble, and ambitious. (Click to tweet).
Thanks for your time and insights, Rick; we really appreciate you sharing them with us.
