Why couldn't it have been done 2 years ago, and why will 2 years in the future be too late?

I think the best thing you can do is be aware that as a first time founder you are likely to be a very bad manager.

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.

Why couldn't it have been done 2 years ago, and why will 2 years in the future be too late?

Startups are not the best choice for work-life balance, and that's sort of just the sad reality.

Founders need to figure out what the message of the company is going to be.

You should always know how you're doing against your metrics. You should always have a weekly review meeting every week.