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Ben Horowitz explains why courage is the most important trait for startup founders “Does the founder have the courage to build the company?… Aristotle said courage is the first virtue, and it’s really important in leadership. Integrity, honesty, and so forth - everybody has them in certain situations. But... that’s not the question. The question is if it’s going to cost you your company, do you have your integrity? If it’s going to cost you your job, are you honest? If it’s going to completely embarrass you in front of everybody, do you have it then? The only way you have it then is if you have courage.” Ben continues: “Courage ends up being the foundation for a lot of what we need in an entrepreneur. I always say you need two things. You need great intelligence and great courage. And I always found as an entrepreneur my courage was tested far more than my intelligence. And I think that’s pretty universal.” Video source: Kevin Rose (2012)show more

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Ben Horowitz explains why he looks for courage in the startup founders he invests in “Does the founder have the courage to build the company?… Aristotle said courage is the first virtue, and it’s really important in leadership. Integrity, honesty, and so forth - everybody has them in certain situations. But that’s not the question. The question is if it’s going to cost you your company, do you have your integrity? If it’s going to cost you your job, are you honest? If it’s going to completely embarrass you in front of everybody, do you have it then? The only way you have it then is if you have courage.” Ben continues: “Courage ends up being the foundation for a lot of what we need in an entrepreneur. I always say you need two things. You need great intelligence and great courage. And I always found as an entrepreneur my courage was tested far more than my intelligence. And I think that’s pretty universal.” Video Source: Kevin Rose

Ben Horowitz explains why he looks for courage in the startup founders he invests in “Does the founder have the courage to build the company?… Aristotle said courage is the first virtue, and it’s really important in leadership. Integrity, honesty, and so forth - everybody has them in certain situations. But that’s not the question. The question is if it’s going to cost you your company, do you have your integrity? If it’s going to cost you your job, are you honest? If it’s going to completely embarrass you in front of everybody, do you have it then? The only way you have it then is if you have courage.” Ben continues: “Courage ends up being the foundation for a lot of what we need in an entrepreneur. I always say you need two things. You need great intelligence and great courage. And I always found as an entrepreneur my courage was tested far more than my intelligence. And I think that’s pretty universal.” Video Source: Kevin Rose

Startup Archive

34,764 views • 2 years ago

Baekhyun (2022): “I hope you take courage and say no to what you hate. If it’s something you really hate but you need to maintain the relationship, you might choose to sacrifice yourself, which is not a bad thing to do. But please make sure you don’t get hurt in the process. If you think it will hurt you, I hope you have the courage to say no and say so.”

Baekhyun (2022): “I hope you take courage and say no to what you hate. If it’s something you really hate but you need to maintain the relationship, you might choose to sacrifice yourself, which is not a bad thing to do. But please make sure you don’t get hurt in the process. If you think it will hurt you, I hope you have the courage to say no and say so.”

Karie ✴︎

64,727 views • 9 months ago

🇺🇸 TRUMP: TO CHANGE THE WORLD, YOU MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE AN OUTSIDER “If you wanted to change the world, you have to have the courage to be an outsider. In other words, you have to take certain risks and do things a little bit differently. Otherwise, if that weren't the case, everybody would be successful.” Source: Truth Social

🇺🇸 TRUMP: TO CHANGE THE WORLD, YOU MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE AN OUTSIDER “If you wanted to change the world, you have to have the courage to be an outsider. In other words, you have to take certain risks and do things a little bit differently. Otherwise, if that weren't the case, everybody would be successful.” Source: Truth Social

Mario Nawfal

112,040 views • 1 year ago

This is so good. “Take courage.” Take courage. Now, that seems like kind of a weak response, doesn’t it? Maybe some kind of a pep talk. You probably have had people tell you in the midst of your worst fears, and anxieties, and disappointments, and distress, and trouble – and somebody says, “Take courage.” And sometimes you want to whack them, as if they don’t even understand the depth of your problem with such a superficial answer. What do you mean? It’s a lot more complicated than that. Buck up, buddy, you know? That’s not going to work. And there’s a reason that’s not going to work when you say it: because you have absolutely no power over the circumstances, right? It’s a nice gesture. Cheer up. But you have no power over the circumstances. But there is one who does. When Jesus says, “Take courage,” that’s a different issue. There’s quite a remarkable use of the word here. It’s one word. “Take courage,” or cheer up, is one word: tharseite. One word in the Greek. It’s a verb form, and it’s in the imperative. It’s a command. Okay? Listen to this. Every time that word is used, and it’s used many times in the gospels and the New Testament – every time that word is used in the New Testament, it is in the imperative. It is a command. Cheer up. Take courage. Now, listen to this. Every time it is used in the New Testament, it is spoken by Jesus. No one else ever says that in the New Testament. That is a whole different issue. If the Lord Jesus, who is in control of absolutely everything, says, “Cheer up,” that’s different. That’s completely different. This is not just a well-intentioned pep talk. On the other hand, this is an absolutely divine promise. The disciples are distressed, to put it mildly. They’re afflicted. They’re pressured. They don’t know how they’re going to survive without Christ. He’s all they’ve known for three years. And our Lord says to them: “Cheer up. I’m going to tell you three things that should bring you joy. One, you are loved by God. Two, you are in God’s everlasting care. Three, God has a promise for your future.” You have love you have faith, and you have hope. You are loved by God. You believe in God. You hope in God. That’s all you need – to be loved by God, to be entrusted into God’s eternal care, and to have Him promise you a glorious future is all you need. — John MacArthur

This is so good. “Take courage.” Take courage. Now, that seems like kind of a weak response, doesn’t it? Maybe some kind of a pep talk. You probably have had people tell you in the midst of your worst fears, and anxieties, and disappointments, and distress, and trouble – and somebody says, “Take courage.” And sometimes you want to whack them, as if they don’t even understand the depth of your problem with such a superficial answer. What do you mean? It’s a lot more complicated than that. Buck up, buddy, you know? That’s not going to work. And there’s a reason that’s not going to work when you say it: because you have absolutely no power over the circumstances, right? It’s a nice gesture. Cheer up. But you have no power over the circumstances. But there is one who does. When Jesus says, “Take courage,” that’s a different issue. There’s quite a remarkable use of the word here. It’s one word. “Take courage,” or cheer up, is one word: tharseite. One word in the Greek. It’s a verb form, and it’s in the imperative. It’s a command. Okay? Listen to this. Every time that word is used, and it’s used many times in the gospels and the New Testament – every time that word is used in the New Testament, it is in the imperative. It is a command. Cheer up. Take courage. Now, listen to this. Every time it is used in the New Testament, it is spoken by Jesus. No one else ever says that in the New Testament. That is a whole different issue. If the Lord Jesus, who is in control of absolutely everything, says, “Cheer up,” that’s different. That’s completely different. This is not just a well-intentioned pep talk. On the other hand, this is an absolutely divine promise. The disciples are distressed, to put it mildly. They’re afflicted. They’re pressured. They don’t know how they’re going to survive without Christ. He’s all they’ve known for three years. And our Lord says to them: “Cheer up. I’m going to tell you three things that should bring you joy. One, you are loved by God. Two, you are in God’s everlasting care. Three, God has a promise for your future.” You have love you have faith, and you have hope. You are loved by God. You believe in God. You hope in God. That’s all you need – to be loved by God, to be entrusted into God’s eternal care, and to have Him promise you a glorious future is all you need. — John MacArthur

Terri Green

10,413 views • 1 year ago

It is time to ban trans! Do you have the courage to comment and repost? If not but you agree with me, then you are part of the problem not the solution!

It is time to ban trans! Do you have the courage to comment and repost? If not but you agree with me, then you are part of the problem not the solution!

Trump Girl 🇺🇲🦅🇺🇲

66,043 views • 5 months ago

Indeed, Serbia is a proxy of Russia. It takes courage to speak the truth, and it's a virtue of great people. We must always have the courage to be just and stand up for what is right. Thank you to all those who have the courage to speak out and stand up for justice. 🇽🇰

Indeed, Serbia is a proxy of Russia. It takes courage to speak the truth, and it's a virtue of great people. We must always have the courage to be just and stand up for what is right. Thank you to all those who have the courage to speak out and stand up for justice. 🇽🇰

Ilir Kapiti

61,444 views • 2 years ago

Ben Horowitz explains the biggest mistake founders make pitching VCs “The big mistake people make is they try to appeal too much to the venture capitalists. That’ll drive us crazy because it’s a little bit of a sign of anti-courage.” Ben shares an example of being pitched by founders who are conservative in their estimates because they know ‘VCs like conservatism.’ However, what VCs want to hear is what you actually believe — not what you think they want to hear. “Anything that shows a lack of conviction or courage or belief in what you’re doing is what always ends up worrying me. Either you believe it or you don’t. Either you’re committed or you’re not. Either you have the courage to build the company or you don’t.” Importantly though, as Ben points out, courage doesn’t mean that you don’t feel fear. He recalls the quote from boxing coach Cus D’Amato: “The hero and the coward both feel the same thing, but the hero uses his fear, projects it onto his opponent, while the coward runs. It’s the same thing, fear, but it’s what you do with it that matters.” Video source: Kevin Rose (2012)

Ben Horowitz explains the biggest mistake founders make pitching VCs “The big mistake people make is they try to appeal too much to the venture capitalists. That’ll drive us crazy because it’s a little bit of a sign of anti-courage.” Ben shares an example of being pitched by founders who are conservative in their estimates because they know ‘VCs like conservatism.’ However, what VCs want to hear is what you actually believe — not what you think they want to hear. “Anything that shows a lack of conviction or courage or belief in what you’re doing is what always ends up worrying me. Either you believe it or you don’t. Either you’re committed or you’re not. Either you have the courage to build the company or you don’t.” Importantly though, as Ben points out, courage doesn’t mean that you don’t feel fear. He recalls the quote from boxing coach Cus D’Amato: “The hero and the coward both feel the same thing, but the hero uses his fear, projects it onto his opponent, while the coward runs. It’s the same thing, fear, but it’s what you do with it that matters.” Video source: Kevin Rose (2012)

Startup Archive

28,252 views • 6 months ago

Ben Horowitz advice to CEOs “You want to be liked and respected in the long-run. Not the short-run.” “You have to be able to tell [your team] the truth in a way that you probably don’t tell most of your friends the truth,” the a16z co-founder explains. “Anthropologically, we want people to like us so we tell them what they want to hear. But on a company level or if your on the board of somebody’s company, you have to be able to tell them what they don’t want to hear. That’s the most important thing you’re going to say. And yes, they’re not going to like it when you say, but over time it can save the company.” Ben continues: “That’s what leadership is about. If everybody agrees with the decision, then you didn’t add any value, because they would’ve done that without you. The only value you ever add is when you make a decision that most people don’t like, and that’s where leadership comes in… That’s the thing that takes practice.” He gives Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang as an example: “When Jensen talks about how you have to get to near-death to get yourself to do that, I think that’s true. It’s hard to build that [muscle of telling people what they don’t want to hear] if everything is going great.” Source: Lenny Rachitsky (Sep 2025)

Ben Horowitz advice to CEOs “You want to be liked and respected in the long-run. Not the short-run.” “You have to be able to tell [your team] the truth in a way that you probably don’t tell most of your friends the truth,” the a16z co-founder explains. “Anthropologically, we want people to like us so we tell them what they want to hear. But on a company level or if your on the board of somebody’s company, you have to be able to tell them what they don’t want to hear. That’s the most important thing you’re going to say. And yes, they’re not going to like it when you say, but over time it can save the company.” Ben continues: “That’s what leadership is about. If everybody agrees with the decision, then you didn’t add any value, because they would’ve done that without you. The only value you ever add is when you make a decision that most people don’t like, and that’s where leadership comes in… That’s the thing that takes practice.” He gives Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang as an example: “When Jensen talks about how you have to get to near-death to get yourself to do that, I think that’s true. It’s hard to build that [muscle of telling people what they don’t want to hear] if everything is going great.” Source: Lenny Rachitsky (Sep 2025)

Startup Archive

25,394 views • 1 month ago

.Charlie Kirk “COURAGE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW HOW IT IS GOING TO WORK OUT. COURAGE IS COMMITTING YOURSELF TO THE CORRECT COURSE OF ACTION REGARDLESS OF THE COST ASSOCIATED TO IT. EVERY HUMAN BEING I BELIEVE IS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF THE DIVINE, SCARED AND UNIQUE. AND IF WE GET AWAY FROM THIS PRINCIPLE, AS WE HAVE, WE NOT ONLY HAVE MORAL DEGRADATION, WE NOT ONLY HAVE THE COLLAPSING SOCIETY AROUND US, BUT IT’S BAD FOR THAT BEING ITSELF. THAT BEING ITSELF IS UNIQUE. THAT BEING HAS RIGHTS AND WHO ARE WE TO SAY JUST BECAUSE WE’RE OLDER THAT WE GET TO MURDER IT.”

.Charlie Kirk “COURAGE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW HOW IT IS GOING TO WORK OUT. COURAGE IS COMMITTING YOURSELF TO THE CORRECT COURSE OF ACTION REGARDLESS OF THE COST ASSOCIATED TO IT. EVERY HUMAN BEING I BELIEVE IS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF THE DIVINE, SCARED AND UNIQUE. AND IF WE GET AWAY FROM THIS PRINCIPLE, AS WE HAVE, WE NOT ONLY HAVE MORAL DEGRADATION, WE NOT ONLY HAVE THE COLLAPSING SOCIETY AROUND US, BUT IT’S BAD FOR THAT BEING ITSELF. THAT BEING ITSELF IS UNIQUE. THAT BEING HAS RIGHTS AND WHO ARE WE TO SAY JUST BECAUSE WE’RE OLDER THAT WE GET TO MURDER IT.”

🦅 Eagle Wings 🦅

32,111 views • 10 months ago

Sequoia founder Don Valentine: “The art of storytelling is incredibly important” “The art of storytelling is incredibly important. And many—maybe even most of the entrepreneurs who come to talk to us can’t tell the story. Learning to tell a story is incredibly important because that’s how the money works. The money flows as a function of the stories.” The founder of Sequoia founder explains that the story is how you explain what you want to do, how long it’s going to take, who the competition is, and how much money you need. a16z cofounder Ben Horowitz shared a similar view in a 2014 Forbes interview: “Storytelling is the most underrated skill… Companies that don’t have a clearly articulated story don’t have a clear and well thought-out strategy. The company story is the company strategy.” He continues: “The story must explain at a fundamental level why you exist. Why does the world need your company? Why do we need to be doing what we’re doing and why is it important?… You can have a great product, but a compelling story puts the company into motion. If you don’t have a great story it’s hard to get people motivated to join you, to work on the product, and to get people to invest in the product.” This is the job of the founder and CEO: “The CEO must be the keeper of the story. The CEO is responsible for getting the story right, that it’s up to date, compelling, and can move the hearts of men and women. That’s the fundamental responsibility of the chief executive… The mistake people make is thinking the story is just about marketing. No, the story is the strategy. If you make your story better you make the strategy better.” Video source: Stanford Graduate School of Business (2010)

Sequoia founder Don Valentine: “The art of storytelling is incredibly important” “The art of storytelling is incredibly important. And many—maybe even most of the entrepreneurs who come to talk to us can’t tell the story. Learning to tell a story is incredibly important because that’s how the money works. The money flows as a function of the stories.” The founder of Sequoia founder explains that the story is how you explain what you want to do, how long it’s going to take, who the competition is, and how much money you need. a16z cofounder Ben Horowitz shared a similar view in a 2014 Forbes interview: “Storytelling is the most underrated skill… Companies that don’t have a clearly articulated story don’t have a clear and well thought-out strategy. The company story is the company strategy.” He continues: “The story must explain at a fundamental level why you exist. Why does the world need your company? Why do we need to be doing what we’re doing and why is it important?… You can have a great product, but a compelling story puts the company into motion. If you don’t have a great story it’s hard to get people motivated to join you, to work on the product, and to get people to invest in the product.” This is the job of the founder and CEO: “The CEO must be the keeper of the story. The CEO is responsible for getting the story right, that it’s up to date, compelling, and can move the hearts of men and women. That’s the fundamental responsibility of the chief executive… The mistake people make is thinking the story is just about marketing. No, the story is the strategy. If you make your story better you make the strategy better.” Video source: Stanford Graduate School of Business (2010)

Startup Archive

258,577 views • 1 year ago

Ben Horowitz explains the two things every successful technology startup must do 1. Build a product that improves how some large group of people does something by 10x. “You have to build a transformational product. There is no way to build a great new company without a great product… If you look at the great technology companies, the thing that distinguishes them is the ability to keep coming up with a better way of doing things.” 2. Taking the market. “You can come up with the best product, but if you don’t [take the market], you really don’t have a company. Most technology businesses are network effects businesses. You have to win… If you’re an engineer, what business skills do you need to build a technology company? They’re all around the skills that you need to win the market. How do you out-market, out-sell, and beat the competition?… Do you build a good enough company that you go win?” Video Source: UC Berkeley

Ben Horowitz explains the two things every successful technology startup must do 1. Build a product that improves how some large group of people does something by 10x. “You have to build a transformational product. There is no way to build a great new company without a great product… If you look at the great technology companies, the thing that distinguishes them is the ability to keep coming up with a better way of doing things.” 2. Taking the market. “You can come up with the best product, but if you don’t [take the market], you really don’t have a company. Most technology businesses are network effects businesses. You have to win… If you’re an engineer, what business skills do you need to build a technology company? They’re all around the skills that you need to win the market. How do you out-market, out-sell, and beat the competition?… Do you build a good enough company that you go win?” Video Source: UC Berkeley

Startup Archive

77,268 views • 1 year ago

Ben Horowitz: Every founder experiences doubt — even Mark Zuckerberg “Congratulations on betting on yourself,” a16z co-founder Ben Horowitz tells an audience full of founders. “Your job is to make your bet payoff. You believed in yourself enough to do it, and there are going to be many times when you question that bet. But that gets you nothing.” Ben offers the following advice: “You just have to do your thing, keep going, and focus on what you can do. The doubts are going to be there, but ignore the doubts. The worst doubts aren’t the ones people put on you; they’re the ones that you put on yourself. Every entrepreneur has them. I spent a lot of time with Mark Zuckerberg when he was 22 years old, and he had tremendous doubt about whether [Facebook] was going to make it. Everybody has that.” He continues: “It’s not what you feel. It’s what you do. So just focus on what you do. You’re going to feel scared. If your guts aren’t boiling, you’re not even trying at these things. Don’t worry about it.” Video source: a16z speedrun 🧊 (2025)

Ben Horowitz: Every founder experiences doubt — even Mark Zuckerberg “Congratulations on betting on yourself,” a16z co-founder Ben Horowitz tells an audience full of founders. “Your job is to make your bet payoff. You believed in yourself enough to do it, and there are going to be many times when you question that bet. But that gets you nothing.” Ben offers the following advice: “You just have to do your thing, keep going, and focus on what you can do. The doubts are going to be there, but ignore the doubts. The worst doubts aren’t the ones people put on you; they’re the ones that you put on yourself. Every entrepreneur has them. I spent a lot of time with Mark Zuckerberg when he was 22 years old, and he had tremendous doubt about whether [Facebook] was going to make it. Everybody has that.” He continues: “It’s not what you feel. It’s what you do. So just focus on what you do. You’re going to feel scared. If your guts aren’t boiling, you’re not even trying at these things. Don’t worry about it.” Video source: a16z speedrun 🧊 (2025)

Startup Archive

58,796 views • 9 months ago

Dearest #MahimaChaudhry!! This is NOT my movie promotion post. This is to APPLAUD you and your courage during the making of our film. Having discovered that you have #Cancer, that you were going through your chemotherapy and that you had lost most of your hair, you still went ahead and shot for our film. Happily and Professionally! You gave your pain and your soul to the role of Ambika. For me that is COURAGE! If there was an olympic like competition for #GraceUnderPressure you would have certainly got a #GoldMedal.🏅Now about your acting! Your performance in #TheSignature is more than BRILLIANT! It can easily be called one of the best in many years. Beautifully nuanced, heartbreaking, compassionate, effortless and real. Every award should go to you. You should be on the cover of every publication. You are the REAL HERO. A real #RoleModel. A real INFLUENCER! It was my pleasure and privilege to work with you. May God give you all the happiness, long and healthy life. Love and prayers always! 😍❤️ ZEE5Official anupamkherstudio ##BestActress #Courage #Brave #Gratitude

Dearest #MahimaChaudhry!! This is NOT my movie promotion post. This is to APPLAUD you and your courage during the making of our film. Having discovered that you have #Cancer, that you were going through your chemotherapy and that you had lost most of your hair, you still went ahead and shot for our film. Happily and Professionally! You gave your pain and your soul to the role of Ambika. For me that is COURAGE! If there was an olympic like competition for #GraceUnderPressure you would have certainly got a #GoldMedal.🏅Now about your acting! Your performance in #TheSignature is more than BRILLIANT! It can easily be called one of the best in many years. Beautifully nuanced, heartbreaking, compassionate, effortless and real. Every award should go to you. You should be on the cover of every publication. You are the REAL HERO. A real #RoleModel. A real INFLUENCER! It was my pleasure and privilege to work with you. May God give you all the happiness, long and healthy life. Love and prayers always! 😍❤️ ZEE5Official anupamkherstudio ##BestActress #Courage #Brave #Gratitude

Anupam Kher

108,057 views • 1 year ago

I did this in 2022 and it will still work in 2026 if you have the courage to chase it.

I did this in 2022 and it will still work in 2026 if you have the courage to chase it.

designwithkingsley

41,957 views • 7 months ago

Ben Horowitz on the two things every successful technology startup must do 1. Build a product that improves how some large group of people does something by 10x. “You have to build a transformational product. There is no way to build a great new company without a great product… If you look at the great technology companies, the thing that distinguishes them is the ability to keep coming up with a better way of doing things.” 2. Taking the market. “You can come up with the best product, but if you don’t [take the market], you really don’t have a company. Most technology businesses are network effects businesses. You have to win… If you’re an engineer, what business skills do you need to build a technology company? They’re all around the skills that you need to win the market. How do you out-market, out-sell, and beat the competition?… Do you build a good enough company that you go win?” Video source: UC Berkeley (2009)

Ben Horowitz on the two things every successful technology startup must do 1. Build a product that improves how some large group of people does something by 10x. “You have to build a transformational product. There is no way to build a great new company without a great product… If you look at the great technology companies, the thing that distinguishes them is the ability to keep coming up with a better way of doing things.” 2. Taking the market. “You can come up with the best product, but if you don’t [take the market], you really don’t have a company. Most technology businesses are network effects businesses. You have to win… If you’re an engineer, what business skills do you need to build a technology company? They’re all around the skills that you need to win the market. How do you out-market, out-sell, and beat the competition?… Do you build a good enough company that you go win?” Video source: UC Berkeley (2009)

Startup Archive

36,753 views • 4 months ago

Have you seen my new video yet? Do you like it? A dominant walk in the park. Black leather, tightly laced, with a bit of glitz and glamour. What would you say if I suddenly stood in front of you? Would you have the courage to approach me? Kiss 💋 Lady Vanessa

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Have you seen my new video yet? Do you like it? A dominant walk in the park. Black leather, tightly laced, with a bit of glitz and glamour. What would you say if I suddenly stood in front of you? Would you have the courage to approach me? Kiss 💋 Lady Vanessa

ᖴᕮTISᕼ DIVᗩ LᗩDY ᐯᗩᑎᕮSSᗩ™

47,246 views • 3 years ago

Frank Slootman’s advice for founders learning to be CEO Founders frequently ask Frank (former CEO of Snowflake), “Do you think I can be a CEO?” Frank responds with a question: “Do you want to be?” He explains: “If you want to be, you need to become a student of the role because it’s different.” One of the biggest differences in transitioning to being an “operating CEO” is that a founder’s “reality distortion field” becomes a liability. Frank explains: “Reality distortion is a very useful thing. Steve Jobs wouldn’t have done anything if he didn’t have reality distortion — you have to see the world differently, and you wouldn’t start a company if you didn’t have reality distortion. But when you start running a place for scale and breakout velocity, you need intellectual honesty.” He continues: “You need to see the world the way it really is… Not some version of the truth. And by the way, it’s hard. You have to drive for that intellectual honesty with everything.” A lack of intellectually honesty is where Frank sees a lot of founders go wrong: “They can’t handle the truth. When they have sales problems, it’s always, ‘Oh let’s get a new Sales VP.’ Well, maybe the product sucks. But that’s a conversation they don’t want to have.” Video source: Foundation Capital (2024)

Frank Slootman’s advice for founders learning to be CEO Founders frequently ask Frank (former CEO of Snowflake), “Do you think I can be a CEO?” Frank responds with a question: “Do you want to be?” He explains: “If you want to be, you need to become a student of the role because it’s different.” One of the biggest differences in transitioning to being an “operating CEO” is that a founder’s “reality distortion field” becomes a liability. Frank explains: “Reality distortion is a very useful thing. Steve Jobs wouldn’t have done anything if he didn’t have reality distortion — you have to see the world differently, and you wouldn’t start a company if you didn’t have reality distortion. But when you start running a place for scale and breakout velocity, you need intellectual honesty.” He continues: “You need to see the world the way it really is… Not some version of the truth. And by the way, it’s hard. You have to drive for that intellectual honesty with everything.” A lack of intellectually honesty is where Frank sees a lot of founders go wrong: “They can’t handle the truth. When they have sales problems, it’s always, ‘Oh let’s get a new Sales VP.’ Well, maybe the product sucks. But that’s a conversation they don’t want to have.” Video source: Foundation Capital (2024)

Startup Archive

91,918 views • 7 months ago

Q: Why is company culture important? In the clip below, a16z cofounder Ben Horowitz argues that culture drives how people in your company behave on a daily basis—and particularly, how they behave when you’re not looking. Is that phone call so important I need to return it today or can it wait until tomorrow? Can I ask for a raise before my annual review? Is the quality of this document good enough or should I keep working on it? Do I have to be on time for that meeting? Should I stay at the Four Seasons or the Red Roof Inn? Should I go home at 5 p.m. or 8 p.m.? Should we discuss the color of this new product for five minutes or thirty hours? If I know something is badly broken in the company, should I say something? Whom should I tell? Is winning more important than ethics? None of these things are in your mission statement or OKRs, but they determine many important things for your company, such as how people experience your company, what you’re like to do business with, what your company is like to work at, etc. And as Ben describes, what drives the culture is all of the little behaviors and cues people take on: “this is what I have to do to succeed in this company.” Culture can feel abstract and secondary when you pit it against a concrete result that’s right in front of you, but it’s a strategic investment in the company doing things the right way when you are not looking. It’s the set of assumptions your employees use to resolve the problems they face every day. It’s how they behave when no one is looking. If you don’t methodically set your culture, then two-thirds of it will end up being accidental, and the rest will be a mistake. If you’re looking for a more in-depth guide to culture and how to build a great one, I’d recommend Ben’s book: What You Do Is Who You Are.

Q: Why is company culture important? In the clip below, a16z cofounder Ben Horowitz argues that culture drives how people in your company behave on a daily basis—and particularly, how they behave when you’re not looking. Is that phone call so important I need to return it today or can it wait until tomorrow? Can I ask for a raise before my annual review? Is the quality of this document good enough or should I keep working on it? Do I have to be on time for that meeting? Should I stay at the Four Seasons or the Red Roof Inn? Should I go home at 5 p.m. or 8 p.m.? Should we discuss the color of this new product for five minutes or thirty hours? If I know something is badly broken in the company, should I say something? Whom should I tell? Is winning more important than ethics? None of these things are in your mission statement or OKRs, but they determine many important things for your company, such as how people experience your company, what you’re like to do business with, what your company is like to work at, etc. And as Ben describes, what drives the culture is all of the little behaviors and cues people take on: “this is what I have to do to succeed in this company.” Culture can feel abstract and secondary when you pit it against a concrete result that’s right in front of you, but it’s a strategic investment in the company doing things the right way when you are not looking. It’s the set of assumptions your employees use to resolve the problems they face every day. It’s how they behave when no one is looking. If you don’t methodically set your culture, then two-thirds of it will end up being accidental, and the rest will be a mistake. If you’re looking for a more in-depth guide to culture and how to build a great one, I’d recommend Ben’s book: What You Do Is Who You Are.

Michael McGuiness

180,634 views • 2 years ago