Thread by Greg Isenberg

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My guide to startups:

I've lost millions, hired hundreds, raised millions and sold companies before the age of 30

Read this to become better:
Venture capital & PR are like drugs

Drugs can kill you or save your life

Use accordingly.
Okinawa is an Island in Japan with the highest life expectancy. It's called "the land of immortals"

The secret? Almost everybody gardens!!

Entrepreneurship is a marathon not a sprint. Be sustainable

Find your gardening.
If you’re lucky: your startup will be copied. Don’t be mad

Channel that frustration into focus into product & community

The best startup revenge is overwhelming product/market fit
For most people: forget Harvard or living in SF

With the internet, you are more powerful than you think you are

1) Learn anything you want
2) Connect with anyone you want
3) Be anyone you want

And do it all hyper-efficiently

What a time to be alive.
A wonderful online course is so valuable its like you’re stealing from the teacher

A bad online course is a teacher stealing from you

Tip: scout out for exceptional online courses where you could meet like-minded folks

This few dollar investment can completely change a life
Startup life is a life full of rejection

No rejection, no progress
How to learn quickly:

Ask questions. You almost never learn while you are talking
How to negotiate well:

Listen 90%, talk 10%

Listening equips you with info that you can use

The listener usually wins
Why the most grateful founders are the most exceptional ones:

Gratefulness makes it hard for you to be fearful

It's 10x easier to excel when you are less fearful
The difference between hiring and recruiting:

Recruiting is not hiring

Recruiting is actively seeking the best people to create the best possible team

Hiring is pulling the trigger

Founders should always be recruiting (especially during this economic downturn)

Period.
Most sales people stop after one or two rejections. Go until two or three

But never use "just following up"

Be memorable in every outreach (use video, tell a story etc)

I bet your sales go up

Lesson: try, try and be memorable
A good job interview is the same as a good therapy session

Ask questions & learn
To-do lists are overrated

A “not to-do” list is more effective than a to-do list

Focus is the holy grail
Quincy Jones would talk to every person at a book signing and leave a personalized note even if it took him until 3 AM to get home

He understood the power of making people feel heard

Personalization is the secret weapon to build loyalty for your customers & team
This may sound silly but:

A single viral tweet can change your life forever (h/t @sweatystartup)

Going viral can transform your business

Point: It's worth experimenting
Maybe this thread will go viral

Follow me @gregisenberg for more tweets about community-based products, startups and web3

I'll make it worth the follow
3 criteria for success:

1) you’re happy
2) you're healthy
3) you’re making other lives better

Everything else is noise.
I once had my identity stolen. It sucked

Tip: use a password manager like 1Password and cold storage for your crypto

Saves time and gives you peace of mind
When dealing with someone upset, think:

Have they slept, eaten, or been bothered by someone?

Sensitivity to people is a superpower
How to build relationships:

- Don’t dismiss people
- Don’t be a jerk
- Don’t rush
- Don’t interrupt

Be positive & kind
Fear kills startups & dreams. Don't let it!

Stressed is the word that high achievers use for fear

Never be fearful, OK to be stressed sometimes

Tip: Master micro-bravery. conquer fear by breaking it down into smaller steps
Many team issues are like dental cavities: long term that people never can address the main issue

Band-aids never work. Address main issues

You can’t fix something that starts with a poor foundation
Good questions to ask yourself everyday before bed:

- What have you done today to help someone
- What is something nice that someone has done for you
- Did you call your mom, dad or sibling today?
- What did you learn
- What can I do to be better tomorrow?
For more detailed startup insights, subscribe to my free newsletter at latecheckout.substack.com

I talk about community-based products, startup ideas and web3

I don't email often, but when I do I think you'll enjoy it
And if you like this vibe of thread, you'll like the podcast me and @SahilBloom started called trwih.com/

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