The root of great companies is make meaning vs. make money.

The record of what you do is forever recoverable because of Google. The lofty upside and scary downside makes reciprocity more important than ever. This is all good because it makes people think more before they do something that reduces their trustworthiness.

Here's what you should say [to an investor]: 'this is what my company does' It's that simple. What you're trying to do is get potential investors to fantasize about how your product or service will make a boatload of money. They can't fantasize if they don't know what you do.

A successful self-publisher must fill three roles: Author, Publisher, and Entrepreneur—or APE.

I don't want to make more friends. I have four kids, I have plenty of friends, and all the personal relationships I need.

Unfortunately, they develop a fixed mindset that they're the most talented, and they think that continued success is a right. Problems arise because pure talent only works as long as the going is easy. Furthermore, they don't take risks because failure would harm their image of being the best, brightest, and most talented. When they do fail, they deny it or attribute it to anything but their shortcomings.

The angels started singing, the clouds parted, it was a religious experience. I've never had the same reaction to a product, not in 25 years.