FLASHBACK 1999. After 4 long years of hard work, amazing colleagues, and a little luck of timing, the company I had joined early, was ringing the bell on the NASDAQ. Within ~a year we’d reach a $4. xx billion market cap. I was retired (on paper). Heady days indeed.
What I learned in that ride:
Biz – good
Electric culture/team is almost unstoppable
Revenue/marquis customer can make an early company
Being the outsider isn’t bad
Never underestimate the power of founder charisma
Timing and momentum are monstrous
Never quit
Biz – not good
Do not compromise
Kool and the gang at the IPO party, not = success
IPO is not the finish line
TRUTH, or TRUTH THE HARD WAY you decide.
Fancy resumes don’t always translate to startups
The markets are manipulated
NEVER lose sight of your customer
leadership is key
It really quite sucks to lose XX millions $$$
Other:
Money will reveal true colors of people
Financial resources don’t define you
Always plan for worst
What got you there is often not what keeps you there.
Who knew that most private jets don’t go coast to coast? There is a tiny airport in Kansas full of jets getting gas/food. Saw Michael Jordan there. 😉
#lifelessons #success #leadership #venturecapital #startups
