Lessons Learned From Shutdown Startups - Part 1

My biggest takeaway from this whole experience was that luck plays a big part in the startup journey (both good and bad). Also, shit can change fast in this startup game. Hot one day and barely holding on the next. About to sell the company, to about to be fired, to back to closing an acquisition. More than anything though I learned that if you rai... See more

I should mention one sort of initial tactic that usually doesn't work: the Big Launch. I occasionally meet founders who seem to believe startups are projectiles rather than powered aircraft, and that they'll make it big if and only if they're launched with sufficient initial velocity. They want to launch simultaneously in 8 different publications, ... See more

My point in sharing all of this is that sometimes I feel like we get too caught up in the words, and forget to disregard them. Especially (in the context of this essay) as builders of new technology products.“How will I describe this to an investor, or at a dinner party with friends?”"What’s the one-liner that describes why this will be better?”“Wh... See more

when startup founders measure success by "exits" it tells you they aren't architects of the future they're house flippers it's more impressive to maintain the integrity of a legacy