Facebook has this famous poster that says move fast and break things. But at the same time they manage to be obsessed with quality.

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.

You don't get to make their decisions but you do get to choose the decision makers.

A small communication breakdown is enough for everyone to be working on slightly different things. And then you loose focus.

Later, you should learn to hire fast and scale up the company, but in the early days the goal should be not to hire. Not to hire.

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.

Most startups are not nearly focussed enough. They work hard...maybe, but they don't work hard on the right things.