Founders, don’t make the same mistake I did.
There are two types of founders: farmers and hunters.
I was a farmer for too long, watching hunters pass by and succeed out of nowhere.
Generally speaking, farmers:
- Were good students in school
- Are used to problems with a right answer
- Believe the world works linearly: you put in X, you get out X
- Are diligent and work hard year-round
- Are nice people who try not to offend others
- Quickly loses energy and motivation when things aren’t going well
Meanwhile, hunters:
- Have brutal focus – that’s their #1 strength
- Don’t see everything as equally important
- Bring ruthless focus when they spot a small opening and seize it
- Are willing to drop some balls to catch the big one
- Don’t mind being called names along the way
- Become a totally different beast when things get hard
You have to be a good person in this business. No question about it.
But if you’re like me – someone who was a good student and diligently listened to parents and mentors in your early life – there’s some unlearning to do, if you want to be an early stage startup founder.
Not everything is equally important. You shouldn’t be too afraid of being called names. When you find a small opening, go after it and “bite the vein”. Don’t expect a right answer to every problem you face.
We can debate about it all day long, but it still doesn’t change what I’ve seen: it was usually hunters who succeeded big in the startup game.