You should be able to describe any employee as an animal at what they do.

If you're not in college and you don't know a cofounder, the next best thing I think is to go work at an interesting company.

You also want to fire people who a) create office politics, and b) who are persistently negative.

There are 3 things I look for when I hire people. Are they smart? Do they get things done? Do I want to spend a lot of time around them?

In YC's case, the number one cause of early death for startups is cofounder blowups.

You're saying no ninety-seven times out of a hundred, and most founders find they have to make a very conscious effort to do this.

Startups are very hard no matter what you do; you may as well go after a big opportunity.