His lessons are those that every founder should follow—start with a solid plan, but always listen to your customers, employees, advisors, and your gut. When the signals suggest that the path you are on is not going to take you where you want to go it is time to pivot.

It's easy to feel trapped by these handcuffs but if you change your perspective just a little, you might find that your hands are bound by nothing more than air, and the future is yours to create.

to consider the opportunity cost associated with not pursuing alternatives.

Finally, fail fast. The biggest mistake startups make when dealing with a big company is to be blinded by whatever shiny brass ring they are pursuing and to fail

Next, realize that you cannot create the need.

If you are not getting straight answers, you are not talking to a decision maker and the big company is likely telling you “no” in its own language.

In discussions with big companies, it is very easy for entrepreneurs to develop “happy ears,” the tendency to hear what one wants to hear, while overlooking the signals that suggest otherwise.

There are five key metrics to measuring user behavior and happiness: 1. Acquisition—How are users coming to your site through various channels? 2. Activation—Are users happy with their first experience? 3. Retention—Are users coming back? 4. Referral—Are users telling others? 5. Revenue—Are users spending money or allowing you to monetize in some

“What is the thing that matters most to making progress right now?” Focus on these and let the other bright ideas sit on the sidelines until the company has proven that it's ready to tackle another opportunity.