What being a founder means, is signing up for this years long grind on execution - and you can't outsource this. Sam Altman More Quotes by Sam Altman More Quotes From Sam Altman The single word that matters most I think to keep the company productive as it grows is alignment. Sam Altman grows matter thinking Losing focus is another way that founders get off track. Sam Altman track focus way The most common post YC failure case for the companies we fund, is they're incredibly focussed during YC on their company... and after they start doing a lot of other things. They advise companies, they go to conferences, whatever. Sam Altman advise cases common M&A negotiations feel really fun. This is one of the biggest killers of companies, is they entertain acquisition conversations. Sam Altman acquisition killers fun You want to think about what is the path for my first 10 or 15 employees going to be as the company grows. Sam Altman want firsts thinking You want to sound crazy, but you want to actually be right. Sam Altman crazy sound want If someone is getting every decision wrong, that's when you need to act, and at that point it'll be painfully aware to everyone. Sam Altman team decision needs Even though plans themselves are worthless, the exercise of planning is very valuable and totally missing in most startups today. Sam Altman missing exercise today Long term thinking is so rare anywhere, but especially in startups. This is a huge advantage if you do it. Sam Altman advantage long thinking Remember that the idea will expand, and become more ambitious as you go. Sam Altman ambitious remember ideas You certainly don't need to have everything figured out in the path from here to world domination. Sam Altman path world needs Someday, you need to build a business that's difficult to replicate. This is an important part of a good idea. Sam Altman important ideas needs The idea should come first, the startup should come second. Sam Altman should ideas firsts If you have several ideas that all seem pretty good, work on the one that you think about, when you're not trying to think about work. Sam Altman trying ideas thinking We hear again and again from founders, that they wish they had waited to start a startup until they came up with an idea they really loved. Sam Altman founders wish ideas Another way of looking at this, is that the best companies are almost always mission oriented. Sam Altman missions company way If it works out, you're going to be working on this for 10 years. Sam Altman work-out ifs years I myself used to believe ideas didn't matter that much, but I'm very sure that's wrong now. Sam Altman matter believe ideas In general though, if you look at the track record of pivots, they don't become big companies. Sam Altman records track looks You don't get to make their decisions but you do get to choose the decision makers. Sam Altman team makers decision
