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

Another way of looking at this, is that the best companies are almost always mission oriented.

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

Why now, why is this the perfect time for this particular idea, and to start this particular company?

I care much more about the growth rate of the market than it's current size and I also care if there's any reason it's going to top out.

You never want to be in a place where an employee has vested 3 out of the 4 years of stock and they start thinking about leaving.

It really is true that you become an average of the people you spend the most time with.