tip for startup founders:

early days, YOU are the most excited about the product. nobody else cares. YOUR motiviation keeps you going.

later on, CUSTOMERS are the most excited about the product. you become apathetic. THEIR encouragement keeps you going.

thus...

building a successful startup is the process of **transferring your enthusiasm and vision to thousands of people as quickly as possible.**

(let "quickly" be 3-10 years)

you must operate under the assumption that you are a prophet. someday soon people will say "AhHh so smart!"

so you need to stay motivated along the way.

things that helped me:

- autobiographies
- celebrating wins (steak, netflix, whatever)
- team retreats
- dividends (as fat as possible)

the irony of building a great company, aka a money printing machine:

1. you will do the MOST work in the beginning when you are improvising, talent-less and underpaid

2. you will do the LEAST work near the end when you are 10x wiser and rich

fair? idk. i don't make the rules.

but i understand the maker mindset.

in fact i'm actually a musician, not a "programmer" or "marketer" or "founder" or "manager" or whatever.

and Ira Glass nails it here. best 115 second investment of your day:

so you have to adopt this mindset as a startup founder.

NOBODY CARES...
...until suddenly...

they do