There comes a time in every company’s life where it must fight for its life. If you find yourself running when you should be fighting, you need to as… - Ben Horowitz

If our company isn’t good enough to win, then do we need to exist at all?

you need to ask yourself, “If our company isn’t good enough to win, then do we need to exist at all?

Here are the rules for writing a rule so powerful it sets the culture for many years: It must be memorable. If people forget the rule, they forget the culture. It must raise the question “Why?” Your rule should be so bizarre and shocking that everybody who hears it is compelled to ask, “Are you serious?” Its cultural impact must be straightforward. The answer to the “Why?” must clearly explain the cultural concept. People must encounter the rule almost daily. If your incredibly memorable rule applies only to situations people face once a year, it’s irrelevant.

Specifically, the following things that cause no trouble when you are small become big challenges as you grow: Communication Common knowledge Decision making

You hired for the generic position. There is no such thing as a great CEO, a great head of marketing, or a great head of sales. There is only a great head of sales for your company for the next twelve to twenty-four months. That position is not the same as the same position at Microsoft or Facebook. Don’t look for the candidate out of central casting. This is not a movie.