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.
The way to have a company that executes well is you have to execute well yourself.
You want to continue to be run by great products, not process for it's own sake.
You have to be decisive. Indecisiveness is a startup killer.
Companies that I've been very involved with, that have had a very bad first hire in the first 3 or so employees never recover from it.
I believe in fighting with investors to reduce the amount of equity they get and then being as generous as you possibly can with employees.