'Founder' is a state of mind, not a job description, and if done right, even CEOs who join after day 1 can become founders.
Interpretation
Being a founder is about mindset and approach rather than formal title or position.
Reid Hoffman's quote emphasizes that the essence of being a founder lies in one's mindset and attitude towards innovation and leadership, rather than merely holding the title of 'founder.' It suggests that even those who join a company later, such as CEOs, can adopt a founder's mentality by embodying creativity, a willingness to take risks, and a vision for growth—qualities essential for driving a company's success.
In practice
In a motivational speech to aspiring entrepreneurs, you might say, 'Remember, being a founder is a state of mind.'
Leaders, whether in the public or the private sphere, must understand the responsibilities that come with their role. They are the most visible standard-bearers of their organizations. Holding them accountable to this responsibility protects the promise of our organizations and our communities.
The same instincts that make us good students can make us lousy entrepreneurs.
The entrepreneurial journey starts with jumping off a cliff and assembling an airplane on the way down.
Any effort to make the death penalty speedier and less costly - more 'efficient' - will inevitably make it less just.
I've long believed that if you're not embarrassed by your first product release, you've released too late.
Good ideas need good strategy to realize their potential.
We can succeed only by concert. It is not 'can any of us imagine better?, but 'can we all do better?
When you are speaking to your team after a game, never talk about the kid who was the star of the game. Talk about what your other players did to help the team win. Be sure to spread the wealth... Then have individual meetings with one to three players to praise and reinforce. Make sure you touch them.
What to an outsider will be no more than the vigorous presentation of a conviction, to an employee may be the manifestation of a determination which it is not safe to thwart.
It was settled by the Constitution, the laws, and the whole practice of the government that the entire executive power is vested in the President of the United States.
At Facebook, we try to be a strengths-based organization, which means we try to make jobs fit around people rather than make people fit around jobs. We focus on what people's natural strengths are and spend our management time trying to find ways for them to use those strengths every day.
A leader does not deserve the name unless he is willing occasionally to stand alone.
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