It’s pretty clear that [customers] know what their budgets are now, and what they want to spend it on.
“It’s pretty clear that [customers] know what their budgets are now, and what they want to spend it on.” Ben Horowitz
The bigger you get, the harder this gets because the more aggressive the people working for you are.
“The bigger you get, the harder this gets because the more aggressive the people working for you are.” Ben Horowitz
Your employees know each other better than they know you.
“Your employees know each other better than they know you.” Ben Horowitz
Planning is valuable, tho the plan is usually useless.
“Planning is valuable, tho the plan is usually useless.” Ben Horowitz
In life, you don’t have a level of confrontation and the nonsense you run into when you’re a CEO. CEOs aren’t born.
“In life, you don’t have a level of confrontation and the nonsense you run into when you’re a CEO. CEOs aren’t born.” Ben Horowitz
The person they’re working with, is going to be the person they’ll know more. So if that person leaves, they’re going to go – well, should have I left too? What did they get and how does that compare to my deal.
“The person they’re working with, is going to be the person they’ll know more. So if that person leaves, they’re going to go – well, … Read More
Generally the reason they fail in the job is, you made some mistake in the hiring process in that you didn’t match… them to the needs of your company accurately enough. That’s the #1 reason this fails. And that’s generally a good place to start: Here’s where we are and here’s what I didn’t recognize about us and about you when I made the decision, and now it is what it is.
“Generally the reason they fail in the job is, you made some mistake in the hiring process in that you didn’t match… them to the … Read More
Here’s Kanye, the great musical genius of his generation in hip hop, but, like, society really can’t even deal with him because he’s always saying something that people go, ‘Oh, I can’t believe Kanye said that. I can’t believe he did that.’
“Here’s Kanye, the great musical genius of his generation in hip hop, but, like, society really can’t even deal with him because he’s always saying … Read More
Volatility and length, that’s the value on an option. 10 years on a startup stock, that’s a big valuable thing.
“Volatility and length, that’s the value on an option. 10 years on a startup stock, that’s a big valuable thing.” Ben Horowitz
I was an executive running a pretty substantial group before becoming CEO, and I had no idea what it was like. When something goes wrong, people say, ‘It’s all your fault.’ Your reaction is, ‘It’s not my fault.’ But what do you mean? I was the founder, I hired everybody in the company, I was managing it.
“I was an executive running a pretty substantial group before becoming CEO, and I had no idea what it was like. When something goes wrong, … Read More
For example, the vast majority of security break-ins occur as a result of problems with known fixes. With an automated system, you can keep up to date.
“For example, the vast majority of security break-ins occur as a result of problems with known fixes. With an automated system, you can keep up … Read More
Until you make the effort to get to know someone or something, you don’t know anything.
“Until you make the effort to get to know someone or something, you don’t know anything.” Ben Horowitz
In life, everybody faces choices between doing what’s popular, easy, and wrong vs. doing what’s lonely, difficult, and right. These decisions intensify when you run a company, because the consequences get magnified 1,000 fold. As in life, the excuses for CEOs making the wrong choice are always plentiful.
“In life, everybody faces choices between doing what’s popular, easy, and wrong vs. doing what’s lonely, difficult, and right. These decisions intensify when you run … Read More
In Silicon Valley, when you’re a private company, the entrepreneur can do no wrong.
“In Silicon Valley, when you’re a private company, the entrepreneur can do no wrong.” Ben Horowitz
Mark [Andressen] was more popular than me at the time … He was like Beyoncé, I was Kelly Rowlings
“Mark [Andressen] was more popular than me at the time … He was like Beyoncé, I was Kelly Rowlings” Ben Horowitz
Yeah, I became a successful entrepreneur… Eventually
“Yeah, I became a successful entrepreneur… Eventually” Ben Horowitz
Leadership is hard to train on.
“Leadership is hard to train on.” Ben Horowitz
It’s quite possible for an executive to hit her goal for the quarter by ignoring the future.
“It’s quite possible for an executive to hit her goal for the quarter by ignoring the future.” Ben Horowitz
Business ends up being very dynamic and situational.
“Business ends up being very dynamic and situational.” Ben Horowitz
There is no silver bullet. There are always options and the options have consequences.
“There is no silver bullet. There are always options and the options have consequences.” Ben Horowitz