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If it works out, you're going to be working on this for 10 years.

Sam Altman

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Sam Altman
Age: 39
Born: 1985
Born: April 22
Entrepreneur
Chicago
Illinois
Samuel H. Altman
Samuel Altman
Works
Working
Going
Years

More quotes by Sam Altman

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When lack of structure fails, it fails all at once. What works totally fine from 0-20 employees, is disastrous at 30.
Sam Altman
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For most software startups, this translates to keep growing. For hardware startups, it translates to don't let your ship date slip.
Sam Altman
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You have to let your team get all the credit for all the good stuff that happens, and you take responsibility for the bad stuff.
Sam Altman
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... you can think about that for everyone you hire: will I bet the future of this company on this single hire? And that's a tough bar.
Sam Altman
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The way to have a company that executes well is you have to execute well yourself.
Sam Altman
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In general, it's best if you're building something that you yourself need.
Sam Altman
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Don't let the company get distracted or excited about other things. A common mistake is that companies get excited by their own PR.
Sam Altman
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You really want to know your cofounders for a while, ideally years.
Sam Altman
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What being a founder means, is signing up for this years long grind on execution - and you can't outsource this.
Sam Altman
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The second part of how to hire: try not to.
Sam Altman
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... how much time you should be spending on hiring? The answer is 0 or 25 percent.
Sam Altman
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One thing that often disrupts momentum and really shouldn't is competitors.
Sam Altman
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A small communication breakdown is enough for everyone to be working on slightly different things. And then you loose focus.
Sam Altman
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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.
Sam Altman
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No matter what you choose, build stuff and be around smart people.
Sam Altman
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Be suspicious of any work that is not building product or getting customers.
Sam Altman
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The cost of getting an early hire wrong is really high.
Sam Altman
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The single word that matters most I think to keep the company productive as it grows is alignment.
Sam Altman
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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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1 of the hardest parts about being a founder, is that there are a 100 important things competing for your attention each day.
Sam Altman