We've seen a lot of data at YC now, and the most successful companies and the ones where the investors do the best... end up giving a lot of stock out to employees- year after year after year.

In the early stage of a startup, hiring senior people is usually a mistake. You just want people that get stuff done.

You really want to know your cofounders for a while, ideally years.

Even though plans themselves are worthless, the exercise of planning is very valuable and totally missing in most startups today.

So always keep momentum, it's this prime directive for managing a startup.

If you can just learn to think about the market first, you will have a big leg up on most people starting startups.

1 of the hardest parts about being a founder, is that there are a 100 important things competing for your attention each day.