Not to mention, some of the best companies I’ve seen were built by founders who heard “no” dozens of times.

The hard truth is that a VC’s job is to generate returns for their investors. That’s it. Not your feelings. And sometimes, that means passing on ‘great’ ideas or people.

Everyone’s searching for the next big thing. But let me tell you a secret. What matters is solving a real problem, for real people, in a way that works.

Stop worrying so much about your life following a straight line. The happiest, most successful entrepreneurs I know do what they do because they followed a passion, not because they have a plan. So...find something that strikes your interest. Follow it, whatever it is.. Don’t be afraid to take a trail just because you can’t see the end.

Prioritization is a superpower. Most startups fail from doing too much, not too little.

The most powerful skill in business is convincing people to believe in something that doesn’t exist yet.

Execution is what separates vision from delusion.

Being wrong is expensive. But being wrong and not admitting it is even more expensive. Learn the difference.

The thing is, I just always believed things would succeed. Even when everyone else said my ideas were ridiculous. Even when we were almost out of money. Even when the metrics were all upside down. I always have confidence that I'll figure something out. That things are going to work out fine.

Mountain guiding taught me everything I needed to know about founding companies. You plan for the worst, hope for the best, and keep everyone alive long enough to reach the summit.