Ode to a first time founder

After 2 mentoring calls I told a first time founder that I could not work with them anymore. With no response and after months of silence, they emailed me to say that they had failed and would love to hear some feedback so that they could grow from the experience.

Below is the email I sent.

- you’re arrogant
- you don’t ask for help
- you convince yourself that when this is all over maybe you’ll be a PM or lecture at university
- you obsess over how you’re going to spend your riches
- you don’t talk to customers nearly enough
- you hid behind your team “building it” as a reason not to ship earlier or sanitize what you are working on
- you’ve convinced yourself that customers will magically come when you are ready
- you think you don’t need advisors, mentors, or design partners

These aren't new things. We all did them first time around. Do yourself a favor, look in the mirror and grow up. When you want to go again, call me.