Top 15 Auren Hoffman Quotes

most of success in life is just following up with people at least 20 times

Data businesses are generally misunderstood. DaaS has different metrics than SaaS.

While there has been a lot written about SaaS businesses (how they operate, what metrics to watch, etc.), there has been surprisingly little written about data businesses.

All successful people push others to move faster. That is the main common trait of successful people.

things rich people do not want you to know: they are actually very happy

I used to think the illiquidity of investing in private companies was a bug.
but I now realize the illiquidity is a feature:
by default you become a long-term investor.

99% of people want to start a company
but just 1% of people really want to run a company

sometimes you meet a super smart charismatic entrepreneur, but you cannot understand their business.

100% of those times, I've lost money as an investor.

it is not in the founder handbook, but one of the main jobs of being a founder is just being a good SDR

what is a great exec?

my draft definition:
1. pushes paces. company moves significantly faster because of her
2. helps make better big decisions
3. finds the 100x opportunity and pursues it with zeal
4. could take over as CEO at any point

Your data will be much more valuable if you enable it to be joined with other datasets (even if you make no money off the other datasets). This is the #1 thing that most people who work at data companies do not understand.

instead of asking people that are >10 years older than you for job advice, try asking people that are 10 years younger ... you might learn a lot more

I want a dentist who doesn’t make me feel like I'm a bad person

many things that are “risky” are actually very safe.
and many things that are “safe” are actually risky.

(for instance, staying at your “safe” corporate job could actually be very risky.)

“The company is just too focused and too well aligned”, said no one ever.

no need to hold grudges, but ok to keep a list of everyone that has stiffed you (even if it was just a dollar) and never, ever do business with them again