![Page 1: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
THE TRUTH ABOUT STARTUPSWhat I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers
![Page 2: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
In the past, most people would tell you to:
![Page 3: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Get a job at a big, established company
![Page 4: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Achieve job securityClimb the corporate ladder
![Page 5: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Achieve job security
![Page 6: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Sounds great, but…
![Page 7: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
![Page 8: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Mmm, yeah, I’m going to have to go ahead and ask you to come in on Sunday…
![Page 9: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
![Page 10: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Nowadays, it’s all about startups:
![Page 11: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
![Page 12: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
![Page 13: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
![Page 14: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Sounds great, but…
![Page 15: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
![Page 16: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
![Page 17: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
![Page 18: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
So what do you do?
![Page 20: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Co-founder ofGruntwork
gruntwork.io
![Page 21: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
PAST LIVES
![Page 22: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Author ofHello,
Startup
hello-startup.net
![Page 23: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
This is the book I wish
I had in college
hello-startup.net
![Page 24: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
I hope this talk & book help you in
your career
hello-startup.net
![Page 25: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
1. Startup myths2. Startup truths3. Startup careers4. Getting started
Outline
![Page 26: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
1. Startup myths2. Startup truths3. Startup careers4. Getting started
Outline
![Page 27: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Myth #1: I’ll be an overnight success!
![Page 28: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
![Page 29: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Reality:
![Page 30: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
“Acquired companies were an average of seven years old…
![Page 31: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
…while IPO companies went public around 8.25 years, on
average.”
![Page 32: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Note: “exits” for the investors. Founders stay on
longer.
![Page 33: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
So if you remember nothing else from this talk, remember
this:
![Page 34: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Building a successful startup takes about a decade.
![Page 35: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
Are you willing to give 10 years of your life to this idea?
![Page 36: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
Myth #2: I’m going to get rich!
![Page 37: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
![Page 38: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Reality:
![Page 39: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
Most startups pay lower salaries and offer few
benefits
![Page 40: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
The stock is often worthless
![Page 41: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
And most startups fail
![Page 42: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
Myth #3: I’ll get to party all day!
![Page 43: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
![Page 44: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
![Page 45: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
Reality:
![Page 46: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
This is startup life.
![Page 47: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
It’s not sexy or glamorous.It’s mostly a lot of hard work.
![Page 48: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/48.jpg)
Myth #4: I’ll get to write code all day!
![Page 49: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/49.jpg)
Some programmers might be thinking, “this looks great!”
![Page 50: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/50.jpg)
Reality:
![Page 51: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/51.jpg)
Building a successful startup takes more than just code
![Page 52: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/52.jpg)
Sure, you’ll write plenty of code
![Page 53: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/53.jpg)
But you’ll also have to do everything else, including:
![Page 54: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/54.jpg)
operating agreements, articles of incorporation, employment contracts, licenses, permits, insurance, NDAs, term sheets, financial modeling, P&L, balance sheet, fundraising, budgeting, cap table, stock certificates, taxes, 81b, 1040, 1099, 1120, W2, pitch decks, customer acquisition, sales calls, CRM, LTV, churn recurring revenue, billing, invoicing, refunds, receipts, interviewing, hiring, firing, promoting, training, motivating, organizing, leading, payroll, HR, mission, vision, culture, renting office space, building a website, setting up email/phone/fax, buying furniture, ordering toilet paper, …
![Page 55: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/55.jpg)
Myth #5: All I need is a brilliant idea!
![Page 56: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/56.jpg)
![Page 57: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/57.jpg)
Reality:
![Page 58: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/58.jpg)
“What surprised me most was how unsure the founders seemed to be that they were actually onto something big. Some of these companies got started almost by accident.”
![Page 59: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/59.jpg)
It’s not about coming up with a single brilliant idea
![Page 60: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/60.jpg)
It’s about navigating anidea maze
![Page 61: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/61.jpg)
Most paths lead to failure. A small few lead to success.
![Page 62: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/62.jpg)
And even the best ideas don’t matter without great execution
![Page 63: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/63.jpg)
1. Startup myths2. Startup truths3. Startup careers4. Getting started
Outline
![Page 64: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/64.jpg)
You’ve now seen some common startup myths
![Page 65: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/65.jpg)
It’s not that they never happen, but they are bad reasons to join or start a
startup.
![Page 66: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/66.jpg)
So what are the good reasons to join or start a
startup?
![Page 67: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/67.jpg)
![Page 68: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/68.jpg)
1. Mastery2. Autonomy3. Purpose
![Page 69: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/69.jpg)
Mastery: The urge to get better at something.
![Page 70: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/70.jpg)
“I've come to believe that learning is the essential unit of progress for startups.” – Eric Ries
![Page 71: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/71.jpg)
Learning how to build a product users want
![Page 72: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/72.jpg)
Learning how to market and sell a product
![Page 73: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/73.jpg)
Learning how to build and motivate a team
![Page 74: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/74.jpg)
Learning how to…
![Page 75: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/75.jpg)
operating agreements, articles of incorporation, employment contracts, licenses, permits, insurance, NDAs, term sheets, financial modeling, P&L, balance sheet, fundraising, budgeting, cap table, stock certificates, taxes, 81b, 1040, 1099, 1120, W2, pitch decks, customer acquisition, sales calls, CRM, LTV, churn recurring revenue, billing, invoicing, refunds, receipts, interviewing, hiring, firing, promoting, training, motivating, organizing, leading, payroll, HR, mission, vision, culture, renting office space, building a website, setting up email/phone/fax, buying furniture, ordering toilet paper, …
![Page 76: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/76.jpg)
Join a startup if you want to grow as a person
![Page 77: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/77.jpg)
“A startup is a company designed to grow fast. Being newly founded does not in itself make a company a startup. Nor is it necessary for a startup to work on technology, or take venture funding, or have some sort of "exit." The only essential thing is growth. ” – Paul Graham
![Page 78: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/78.jpg)
Working for a growing company is an amazing
experience
![Page 79: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/79.jpg)
![Page 80: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/80.jpg)
![Page 81: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/81.jpg)
![Page 82: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/82.jpg)
![Page 83: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/83.jpg)
![Page 84: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/84.jpg)
Autonomy: The urge to control your life.
![Page 85: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/85.jpg)
At a startup, you choose what to work on
![Page 86: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/86.jpg)
At a startup, you choose who to work with
![Page 87: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/87.jpg)
At a startup, you choose how to work
![Page 88: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/88.jpg)
At a startup, you choose where to work
![Page 89: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/89.jpg)
![Page 90: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/90.jpg)
Purpose: The urge to do something meaningful.
![Page 91: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/91.jpg)
![Page 92: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/92.jpg)
Gruntwork’s why:
![Page 93: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/93.jpg)
We believe software is one of humanity’s greatest
inventions.
![Page 94: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/94.jpg)
![Page 95: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/95.jpg)
![Page 96: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/96.jpg)
![Page 97: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/97.jpg)
We also believe that creating software is too hard.
![Page 98: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/98.jpg)
![Page 99: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/99.jpg)
We believe making software more accessible will transform humanity.
![Page 100: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/100.jpg)
This is what getsme up in the morning.
![Page 101: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/101.jpg)
As a startup, we are searching for the right what and how.
![Page 102: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/102.jpg)
“[Established] Companies execute business models where customers, their problems, and necessary product features are all “knowns.” In sharp contrast, startups operate in “search” mode, seeking a repeatable and profitable business model.” – Steve Blank
![Page 103: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/103.jpg)
It turns out that search mode is more fun
![Page 104: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/104.jpg)
It’s hard to feel passionate about increasing profit
margin by 0.3%
![Page 105: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/105.jpg)
It’s hard not to feel passionate about fighting for
survival
![Page 106: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/106.jpg)
When you’re one of 5,000 employees, you rarely feel
like you’re making a difference
![Page 107: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/107.jpg)
When the company is 5 people, everything you do
matters
![Page 108: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/108.jpg)
1. Startup myths2. Startup truths3. Startup careers4. Getting started
Outline
![Page 109: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/109.jpg)
You’ve now seen reasons you should or shouldn’t join a
startup
![Page 110: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/110.jpg)
So where do startups fit in your career?
![Page 111: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/111.jpg)
1. Join an established company
2. Join a small startup3. Start your own company
![Page 112: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/112.jpg)
1. Join an established company
2. Join a small startup3. Start your own company
![Page 113: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/113.jpg)
At least once in your career, join a big, established company
![Page 114: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/114.jpg)
Try to join one of the leaders in your industry
![Page 115: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/115.jpg)
A “Google” on your resume will benefit you your entire career
![Page 116: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/116.jpg)
You will work with amazing people
![Page 117: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/117.jpg)
You will make a good salary(pay off your loans!)
![Page 118: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/118.jpg)
You will learn how a successful company operates
![Page 119: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/119.jpg)
You’ll also learn how not to do things
![Page 120: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/120.jpg)
1. Join an established company
2. Join a small startup3. Start your own company
![Page 121: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/121.jpg)
At least once in your career, join a small startup
![Page 122: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/122.jpg)
Now is the golden ageof the startup.
![Page 123: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/123.jpg)
![Page 124: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/124.jpg)
![Page 125: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/125.jpg)
![Page 126: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/126.jpg)
![Page 127: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/127.jpg)
Average tenure for a firm in the S&P 500:
1958: 61 years1980: 25 years2012: 18 years
![Page 128: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/128.jpg)
“On average, an S&P 500 company is now being replaced about once every two weeks […] At current churn rate, 75% of the S&P 500 will be replaced by 2027.”
![Page 129: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/129.jpg)
Open source 19+ million repositories on GitHub.
Services AWS, Twilio, Stripe, MailChimp, Slack, DesignCrowd, RocketLawyer, …
Distribution Mobile, email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, Meetup.com, YouTube, AdWords, …
Information Books, classes, blogs, accelerators, incubators, conferences, …
Money Venture capital, angels, crowdfunding, government grants, self-funding, …
![Page 130: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/130.jpg)
So why join a startup instead of starting your own?
![Page 131: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/131.jpg)
If you start a startup, you are stuck with it for up to a
decade.
![Page 132: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/132.jpg)
In that same time period, you can join 3-4 startups.
![Page 133: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/133.jpg)
Earning experience, connections, and stock at
each one.
![Page 134: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/134.jpg)
“The 100th engineer at Facebook made far more money than 99% of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.” – Dustin Moskovitz
![Page 135: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/135.jpg)
Some people chase ambulances
![Page 136: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/136.jpg)
Some people chase IPOs
![Page 137: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/137.jpg)
How do you find a good startup to join?
![Page 138: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/138.jpg)
1. Look to your network.2. Look at the products you
use.3. Look at elite VC
portfolios.
![Page 139: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/139.jpg)
![Page 140: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/140.jpg)
1. Join an established company
2. Join a small startup3. Start your own company
![Page 141: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/141.jpg)
You’ll probably have more fun and make more money
joining someone else’s company.
![Page 142: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/142.jpg)
As a founder, you will make roughly 10x the sacrifice.
![Page 143: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/143.jpg)
10x more stress 10x more risk10x more time
![Page 144: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/144.jpg)
So is it ever a good ideato start a company?
![Page 145: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/145.jpg)
Yes: When you can’t not do it.
![Page 146: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/146.jpg)
You have an idea or passion that you simply must do.
![Page 147: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/147.jpg)
You’ve worked on it for years, even while at other jobs.
![Page 148: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/148.jpg)
You just have to bring your dream into the world.
![Page 149: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/149.jpg)
Just remember: a startup is one way to accomplish your
dream.
![Page 150: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/150.jpg)
1. Do a side project.2. Go into politics.3. Do volunteer activities.4. Build a community.5. Join someone else’s company.6. Invest in someone else’s company.7. Start a non-profit.8. Start a lifestyle business.9. Start a startup.10. Do academic research.11. Publish articles, papers, and books.12. Give talks.13. Create an open source project.14. Become an advisor or mentor.15. Become a teacher.
![Page 151: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/151.jpg)
1. Do a side project.2. Go into politics.3. Do volunteer activities.4. Build a community.5. Join someone else’s company.6. Invest in someone else’s company.7. Start a non-profit.8. Start a lifestyle business.9. Start a startup.10. Do academic research.11. Publish articles, papers, and books.12. Give talks.13. Create an open source project.14. Become an advisor or mentor.15. Become a teacher.
A startup is merely one means to an end.
![Page 152: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/152.jpg)
1. Startup myths2. Startup truths3. Startup careers4. Getting started
Outline
![Page 153: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/153.jpg)
So how do you start? How do you build a good career?
![Page 154: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/154.jpg)
“You need to be good at something before you can expect a good job.” – Cal Newport
![Page 155: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/155.jpg)
“The way to get startup ideas is not to try to think of startup ideas […] The way to have good startup ideas is to become the sort of person who has them.” – Paul Graham
![Page 156: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/156.jpg)
The way to have a great career is not to search for a
great career but to make yourself great.
![Page 157: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/157.jpg)
How to become great:
1. Study2. Build3. Share
![Page 158: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/158.jpg)
How to become great:
1. Study2. Build3. Share
![Page 159: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/159.jpg)
Read books
![Page 160: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/160.jpg)
Read papers, articles, blogs
![Page 161: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/161.jpg)
Take classes
![Page 162: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/162.jpg)
Go to meetups, conferences, and talks (like this one!)
![Page 163: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/163.jpg)
Aim to be a “T-Shaped Person”
![Page 164: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/164.jpg)
How to become great:
1. Study2. Build3. Share
![Page 165: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/165.jpg)
When I was a kid,I didn’t like reading.
![Page 166: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/166.jpg)
When I was in college, I didn’t like reading.
![Page 167: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/167.jpg)
When I was starting my career,
I didn’t like reading.
![Page 168: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/168.jpg)
You know what finally got me to love reading?
![Page 169: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/169.jpg)
Becoming a person who needs reading.
![Page 170: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/170.jpg)
What kind of person is that?
![Page 171: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/171.jpg)
A maker.
![Page 172: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/172.jpg)
As I tried to build software, teams, & products, I realized:
![Page 173: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/173.jpg)
I have no idea what I’m doing.
![Page 174: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/174.jpg)
It turns out that the knowledge I needed was in
books.
![Page 175: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/175.jpg)
The more I built, the more I had to learn, the more I
read.
![Page 176: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/176.jpg)
Go make things.
![Page 177: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/177.jpg)
Work projects, side projects, learning projects, open source, hackathons,
prototypes, inventions, art, music, teams, communities, …
![Page 178: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/178.jpg)
How to become great:
1. Study2. Build3. Share
![Page 179: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/179.jpg)
Share everything you’ve learned
![Page 180: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/180.jpg)
Write
![Page 181: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/181.jpg)
Speak
![Page 182: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/182.jpg)
Open source
![Page 183: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/183.jpg)
Why?
![Page 184: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/184.jpg)
Quality: you do better work when others are looking.
![Page 185: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/185.jpg)
Branding: you become an expert by sharing your expertise.
![Page 186: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/186.jpg)
Mastery: the best way to learn is to teach.
![Page 187: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/187.jpg)
That’s why I’m here today.
![Page 188: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/188.jpg)
To share what I’ve learnedwith all of you.
![Page 189: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/189.jpg)
To learn more, see
Hello, Startup
hello-startup.net
![Page 190: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/190.jpg)
Questions?
![Page 191: The Truth About Startups: What I wish someone had told me about entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, and successful careers](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022070521/58f9a70d760da3da068b564e/html5/thumbnails/191.jpg)
Office buildings: Floriane VitaMan in suit: energiepic.comLadder: Miguel Virkkunen CarvalhoCubicles: Tim PattersonOffice Space: 20th Century FoxThe Social Network: Columbia PicturesSilicon Valley: HBOThe 4-hour Work Week: Tim FerrissPing pong: SageChimeraBiz Stone: Joi ItoCoding: Hitesh ChoudharySteve Jobs: Matthew YoheMark Zuckerberg: Brian SolisReid Hoffman: Joi ItoIdea maze: Chris DixonRobert Heinlein: WikimediaPrimitive Wheel: John O’NeillCamp Fire: Eric Dufresne
Code: Ilya PavlovSoftware frustration: Tim GouwCoffee: David MaoSteve Blank: Eric MillettePaul Graham: Dave ThomasDustin Moskovitz: Dustin MoskovitzAmbulance: Paul SablemanStressed woman: Aledander DummerWoman writing: Startup Stock PhotosMan and whiteboard: Startup Stock PhotosClassroom: WokandapixJournals: Lum3nMeetup: Sebastiaan ter BurgT-Shaped Person: ValveWriting: Alvaro SerranoTeaching: Pop TechPair coding: Startup Stock PhotosExpert: Graham Lavender
References & image credits