My best advice: win little battles. Get in the habit of winning, of shipping, of having customers that can't live without you. Once you've demonstrated you know how to do the art, then go after the windmills.

Say what you believe and see who follows.

Yes, I think it's okay to abandon the big, established, stuck tribe. It's okay to say to them, "You're not going where I need to go, and there's no way I'm going to persuade all of you to follow me. So rather than standing here watching the opportunities fade away, I'm heading off. I'm betting some of you, the best of you, will follow me.

Organizations grow when they persuade a tiny cadre to be passionate, not when they touch millions with a mediocre message

Lack of resources (payroll), time and competing priorities are why so many nonprofits haven't done well. It's that simple.

It takes confidence and guts to intentionally create tension.

A bully is playing a game, one that he or she enjoys and needs. You're welcome to play this game if it makes you happy, but for most people, it will make you miserable.