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Firing people is one of the worst parts of running a company. Actually in my own experience, I think it is the worst.

Sam Altman

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Sam Altman
Age: 39
Born: 1985
Born: April 22
Entrepreneur
Chicago
Illinois
Samuel H. Altman
Samuel Altman
People
Team
Worst
Company
Actually
Experience
Running
Think
Firing
Thinking
Parts

More quotes by Sam Altman

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One thing that founders forget is that after they hire employees, they have to retain them.
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... if you talk to say any of the first 40 or 50 employees, they all feel like they were a part of the founding of the company.
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I really believe that the single hardest thing in business is building a company that does repeatable innovation... and just has this ongoing culture of excellence as it grows.
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You need to have a culture where people have very high quality standards in everything the company does, but still move quickly.
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If you want something in a deal, just ask for it.
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In general though, if you look at the track record of pivots, they don't become big companies.
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The other piece besides focus for execution is intensity. Startups only work at a fairly intense level.
Sam Altman
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Every company has a rocky beginning.
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Most startups are not nearly focussed enough. They work hard...maybe, but they don't work hard on the right things.
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We talk to a team they've gotten new things done, that's the best predictor we have that a company will be successful.
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Everyone starting a startup for the first time is scared, and everyone feels like a bit of an imposter.
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1 of the hardest parts about being a founder, is that there are a 100 important things competing for your attention each day.
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Founders are usually very stingy with equity to employees and very generous with equity to investors. I think this is totally backwards.
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I think as a rough estimate, you should aim to give about 10% of the company to the first 10 employees.
Sam Altman
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Obsess about the quality of the product.
Sam Altman
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You only get points when you make something the market wants. So if you work really hard on the wrong things, no one will care.
Sam Altman
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Most of the best hires that I've made in my entire life have never done that thing before.
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Unfortunately the trick to great execution is to say no a lot.
Sam Altman
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So it's worth some real up front time to think through the long term value and the defensibility of the business.
Sam Altman
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Employees will only add more value over time.
Sam Altman