I've had the opportunity to be mentored by and invested in by great startup founders from Jason Lemkin to Dave McClure.
Here's what many of the greats know — and practice — that seems to elude many founders:
1. It's all about the people.
Great startup founders don't always have the greatest ideas. But they know how to surround themselves with people will fill the gaps in their thinking, allowing new ideas and implementations to drive their businesses forward.
2. Egos aren't as important as progress.
Oftentimes, great startup founders have big egos. But they know how to put their egos aside so the people who they have so carefully brought into their fold can take action that continues progress towards their visions!
3. Vision must be a rock: unmovable, unbreakable.
While great startup founders may vary their tactics almost daily, and strategies may change drastically from quarter to quarter, their visions of making people's lives better in some way don't vary. Vision stays firm and focused.
4. Competition is irrelevant.
Sure, great startup founders know that competitors exist — they may even track their competitors (although oftentimes they don't). But they know that greatness is about paving your own road; it has nothing to do with the competition.
5. The potholes in the road are ... just potholes.
Great startup founders know what it means to lose a couple battles — to even have investors, friends, or others turn their backs when the going gets hard. But they don't mind. They know where they are headed. They keep trudging forward.
6. The moments of glory aren't really glorious.
In the moments others celebrate the successes of great startup founders, they tend not to notice the party in their honor. They know where their business could be and where it is right now. There's always a gap. So they focus on moving forward!
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