DISQUS

VentureBeat: Do you have what it takes to be a founder? A quick quiz

  • davemc500hats · 1 month ago
    you failed to mention people who carp about failing to mention stuff.

    oh yeah, startup founders & employees should avoid negative attitudes.

    (but other than that, great article steve ;)
  • mcramer · 1 month ago
    Not a word about leadership or decision-making? You mention "articulate," which sounds a little bit like leadership, but that's not enough - founders have to not only share the vision, but get everyone to grab an oar and pull as hard as they can, in the same direction.

    More importantly, while you mention "chaos" and "uncertainty," one of the most difficult things about being a founder is constantly making decisions, both large and small. Even if you "recognize the patterns," it is essential in resource-constrained environments to be able to choose a path, which will inevitably mean eliminating others.
  • Robert Damesworth · 1 month ago
    You failed to mention the importance of faith in becoming a founder. For me, starting a new business was full of potential pitfalls for failure and I would not of stepped out and gone forward anyway unless I believed it was what I was called to do. By knowing that God had specifically given me the vision to start my first business, and that He would show me the way, I was able to press through the difficult times and enjoy 20 years of self employment. God has led me to start 2 more businesses, one in the holistic pet food industry, and the other in industrial sales, and now I can say without a doubt that knowing what your called to do, and trusting the Lord to guide you through it all, makes a difference. Matthew 6:33
  • Ngen · 1 month ago
    nice write-up
    look folks, this isn't a book, just a short commentary by Steve

    but steve, seriously, you need to resegment the market a bit and when you do that, walk and chew daily

    :-)
  • Subba · 1 month ago
    It's the minimum set of qualities that are needed to be a founder.
    Well done Steve!
  • siva KrishnaReddy · 1 month ago
  • SharelOmer · 6 days ago
    Good post! a lot of experiences in here. i think that the most important question is WHY, Why do you want to be a founder, if you know why then its a good enough reason to start following your dream.

    Thanks, for the post Steve.
    Sharel