Thread
The CEO’s job, a thread:
1/ Disrupt the product roadmap and change direction on a whim.
You’re the smartest person at the company, trust yourself. It’s ok to stop the team in their tracks and change direction because you think it’s important.
You’re the smartest person at the company, trust yourself. It’s ok to stop the team in their tracks and change direction because you think it’s important.
2/ If one of your employees performs poorly, make sure to shame them in public.
Set the example that you only want the highest quality of work. This method is guaranteed to keep the team motivated and not scared of you at all.
Set the example that you only want the highest quality of work. This method is guaranteed to keep the team motivated and not scared of you at all.
3/ Focus on press instead of building
Brand. Is. Everything.
Building a great product doesn’t matter if you’re not on Forbes 30u30 and appearing on CNBC. $15k/mo for a PR firm is a good budget.
Brand. Is. Everything.
Building a great product doesn’t matter if you’re not on Forbes 30u30 and appearing on CNBC. $15k/mo for a PR firm is a good budget.
4/ Pay yourself a salary that is at least 10x the next highest paid employee.
Again, you’re the smartest person at the company and you bring the most value. You deserve the $1.5m/year salary.
Again, you’re the smartest person at the company and you bring the most value. You deserve the $1.5m/year salary.
5/ Work your employees as much as possible.
Some people may complain and that’s ok. Your job as the CEO is to extract as much value out of your team as possible.
When in doubt, throw a pizza party.
Some people may complain and that’s ok. Your job as the CEO is to extract as much value out of your team as possible.
When in doubt, throw a pizza party.
6/ Sell secondaries at the Series A but don’t offer it to your employees.
This perfectly aligns you with the long term vision of the company. The team *does not* need to be aligned.
This perfectly aligns you with the long term vision of the company. The team *does not* need to be aligned.
7/ Hire middle management as early as possible.
You need to separate yourself from the lowest folks on the totem pole. They are a distraction. Hire a solid middle management layer to protect you from the noise.
You need to separate yourself from the lowest folks on the totem pole. They are a distraction. Hire a solid middle management layer to protect you from the noise.
8/ Hire your friends
Clearly you’re the smartest (we’ve established this) and that means your friends are also smart. Hire them over the top candidates, always.
Clearly you’re the smartest (we’ve established this) and that means your friends are also smart. Hire them over the top candidates, always.
9/ Only hire 10x engineers
The most important thing is to recruit top talent. You should only be focused on hiring 10x engineers. 8 or 9x engineers WILL NOT cut it!
The most important thing is to recruit top talent. You should only be focused on hiring 10x engineers. 8 or 9x engineers WILL NOT cut it!
10/ Only focus on the 30 year vision
The best CEOs I know execute against a 30 year vision. There is no point of focusing on the short term when you are building a generational company.
30 year visions or bust.
The best CEOs I know execute against a 30 year vision. There is no point of focusing on the short term when you are building a generational company.
30 year visions or bust.
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Nick Huber @sweatystartup
·
Dec 27, 2021
This is a good thread.