60 Company Builders Share Their Advice for Startup Founders

“Be contagious. Being a leader is like having a megaphone to your mouth at all times — your team is hanging on every word you say. So you’d better make sure you’re saying it with passion, enthusiasm and energy.”

“Get comfortable being uncomfortable. When the company is growing so fast that it’s changing underneath you, you have to learn your job over and over again.”

“Starting a company isn’t easy — you need an insane amount of conviction. You don’t have to be sure the product will work, but you do need to believe fully in the mission.”

“Start small. Write down specific problems you need to overcome and don’t worry about anything else. Especially in the beginning, starting a company should feel like a project, not a grand vision.”

“A heck of a lot of people will think it won’t work. But if you can picture yourself walking through each step, there’s a good chance you know what you’re doing. Just because something’s never been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”