The first-time founder playbook 🧵:

1/ Build in public

Too many founders want to build "in stealth"—so they can do a grand reveal to the world.

Unfortunately, stealth =

• Slower
• Very expensive
• Harder to iterate
• More pressure to make it "perfect"

Building in public = speed & easier to iterate.

2/ Always be "in beta"

Don't ever think your startup will reach an end.

Don't strive for "done."

Even at 600,000 employees and $1.5 trillion in market cap, Amazon still operates as "it's always Day 1."

Greatness should be a forever journey, not a destination.

3/ Name & Claim your category

Before a customer can care about what you do, or what you've made, or what you sell...

THEY HAVE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.

You should be able to name & claim your category in 2-3 words.

And those 2-3 words should be the nucleus of everything you do.

4/ Hire slow, fire fast

Your first hire is the most important one you'll ever make.

Because that hire is what unlocks:

a) More of your time
b) The future culture of the team

Hire this first person slowly. Make sure it's right.

If it's not, get rid of them ASAP & try again.