The tenth social network, and limited only to college students with no money, also terrible. Myspace had won. — Sam Altman College Copy Share Image
The best founders work on things that seem small but they move really quickly. They get things done really quickly. — Sam Altman Done Copy Share Image
Before 20 or 25 employees, most companies are structured with everyone reporting to the founder. It's totally flat. — Sam Altman Company Copy Share Image
The way you get deals done and the way you get good terms, is to have a competitive situation. — Sam Altman Competitive Copy Share Image
AirBnB happened because Brian Chesky couldn't pay his rent, but did have some space. — Sam Altman Airbnb Copy Share Image
To get the very best people- they have a lot of great options, and so it can easily take a year to… — Sam Altman People Copy Share Image
As the company grows and about this 25 or so employee size, your main job shifts from building a great product to… — Sam Altman Building Copy Share Image
There are 3 things I look for when I hire people. Are they smart? Do they get things done? Do I want… — Sam Altman Done Copy Share Image
The most important thing is that there is clear reporting structure and everyone knows what it is. — Sam Altman Clear Copy Share Image
Long term thinking is so rare anywhere, but especially in startups. This is a huge advantage if you do it. — Sam Altman Advantage Copy Share Image
In the beginning of a company, there is no management and this actually works really well. — Sam Altman Birth Copy Share Image
Facebook has this famous poster that says move fast and break things. But at the same time they manage to be obsessed… — Sam Altman Break Copy Share Image
When lack of structure fails, it fails all at once. What works totally fine from 0-20 employees, is disastrous at 30. — Sam Altman Employee Copy Share Image
What you want to do is innovate on your product and your business model, management structure is not where I would try… — Sam Altman Business Copy Share Image
By the way, that's my number one piece of advice if you're going to join a startup: pick a rocket ship. — Sam Altman Advice Copy Share Image
One of the great and terrible things about starting a start up is that you get no credit for trying. — Sam Altman Credit Copy Share Image
If you have several ideas that all seem pretty good, work on the one that you think about, when you're not trying… — Sam Altman Good work Copy Share Image
You need conviction in your own beliefs, and the willingness to ignore others naysaying. — Sam Altman Belief Copy Share Image
You want to think about what is the path for my first 10 or 15 employees going to be as the company grows. — Sam Altman Business Copy Share Image
Press releases are easier to write than code, and that is still easier than making a great product. — Sam Altman Code Copy Share Image
So it's worth some real up front time to think through the long term value and the defensibility of the business. — Sam Altman Business Copy Share Image
There are exceptions of course, but most companies start with a great idea - not a pivot. — Sam Altman Companies Copy Share Image
As you grow, it feels hopelessly corporate but it really is worth putting in place these compensation bands. — Sam Altman Band Copy Share Image
Every first time founder waits too long, everyone hopes that an employee will turn around. But the right answer is to fire… — Sam Altman Answers Copy Share Image
M&A negotiations feel really fun. This is one of the biggest killers of companies, is they entertain acquisition conversations. — Sam Altman Acquisition Copy Share Image
Someday, you need to build a business that's difficult to replicate. This is an important part of a good idea. — Sam Altman Business Copy Share Image
I think as a rough estimate, you should aim to give about 10% of the company to the first 10 employees. — Sam Altman Aim Copy Share Image
You never want to be in a place where an employee has vested 3 out of the 4 years of stock and… — Sam Altman Employee Copy Share Image
... you want to be proud of how much you can get done with a small numbers of employees. — Sam Altman Be proud Copy Share Image
A related advantage of mission oriented ideas, is that you yourself will be dedicated to them. — Sam Altman Advantage Copy Share Image
Really dig into projects people have worked on and call references; that is another thing that first time founders like to skip. — Sam Altman First time Copy Share Image
Ideas by themselves are not worth anything, only executing well is what creates value. — Sam Altman Executing Copy Share Image
At the beginning, you should only hire when you have a desperate need to. — Sam Altman Birth Copy Share Image
So always keep momentum, it's this prime directive for managing a startup. — Sam Altman Entrepreneurship Copy Share Image
Why couldn't it have been done 2 years ago, and why will 2 years in the future be too late? — Sam Altman Done Copy Share Image
