Quote

The most common post YC failure case for the companies we fund, is they're incredibly focussed during YC on their company... and after they start doing a lot of other things. They advise companies, they go to conferences, whatever.

Sam Altman

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Sam Altman
Age: 39
Born: 1985
Born: April 22
Entrepreneur
Chicago
Illinois
Samuel H. Altman
Samuel Altman
Common
Incredibly
Things
Companies
Case
Focussed
Failure
Conferences
Cases
Advise
Company
Post
Start
Posts
Whatever
Fund

More quotes by Sam Altman

Image
A board member of mine used to say sales fix everything in a startup, and that is really true.
Sam Altman
Image
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
Image
Or a way to stay on strangers couches, that just sounds terrible all around.
Sam Altman
Image
So you should always stay on top of people's vesting schedules.
Sam Altman
Image
... but actually it sucks to have a lot of employees, and you should be proud of how few employees you have.
Sam Altman
Image
You really want to know your cofounders for a while, ideally years.
Sam Altman
Image
Mediocre founders spend a lot of time talking about grand plans, but they never quite make a decision.
Sam Altman
Image
If you pivot, do it fully and with conviction. The worst thing is to try to do a bit of the old and the new-it's hard to kill your babies.
Sam Altman
Image
The company just needs to see you as like this maniacal execution machine.
Sam Altman
Image
Be suspicious of any work that is not building product or getting customers. It's easy to get sucked into an infrastructure rewrite death spiral.
Sam Altman
Image
Obsess about the quality of the product.
Sam Altman
Image
One of the biggest advantages that start ups have is execution speed and you have to have this relentless operating rhythm.
Sam Altman
Image
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
Image
Remember that the idea will expand, and become more ambitious as you go.
Sam Altman
Image
So it's worth some real up front time to think through the long term value and the defensibility of the business.
Sam Altman
Image
Some day everyone will find out everyone else's comp, if it's all over the place, it will be a complete meltdown disaster
Sam Altman
Image
Great execution towards a terrible idea will get you nowhere.
Sam Altman
Image
Before product/market fit, your only job that matters is to build a great product.
Sam Altman
Image
Losing focus is another way that founders get off track.
Sam Altman
Image
The role of the board is advice and consent. If the CEO does not lay out a clear strategy and tries to get the board to set one, it will usually end in disaster.
Sam Altman