Press releases are easier to write than code, and that is still easier than making a great product.

For most of the early hires you make in a startup, experience doesn't matter very much, and you should go for aptitude.

AirBnB happened because Brian Chesky couldn't pay his rent, but did have some space.

Firing people is one of the worst parts of running a company. Actually in my own experience, I think it is the worst.

These all sounded really bad, but they turned out to be good. If they had sounded really good, there would have been too many people working on them.

As you grow, it feels hopelessly corporate but it really is worth putting in place these compensation bands.

The other piece besides focus for execution is intensity. Startups only work at a fairly intense level.