why aren't all 8 resolved? a statement only gets an assessment when the public
record can support or contradict it. opinions and what-ifs never can, and 0 checkable
ones are still open, waiting for their date. predictions held up or didn't;
assertions are supported or contradicted. on every card:
▮▮▮▮▮ certainty ·
▮▮▮▮▮ debate potential. speakers are clickable
Insight
Webb: Founders should delay creating formal boards until required by investors
“I wouldn't have a board until I was required to have one, because I had to raise enough outside comfortable that they would not give it to me until it came with a board seat.”
Insight
Webb: Startups adding VC board members must also add independent directors
“Always if you add a VC partner. Make sure you have an independent with you, whether that's on top of the co-founder or not.”
Insight
Webb: Expecting strong work-life balance as a CEO is impractical
“The top jobs require lots of energy and time, and that doesn't mean you can't find moments and have a great family, and I want you to do that, but it's really hard. So I think people that dream about having the best jobs in the world and the best work-life bal…”
Insight
Webb: External rockstars often make worse hires than internal stretch candidates
“Some of my worst hires were when I went outside to get the Rockstar that had done the job way before, but they didn't want to do it again. And some of my best hires were when I gave my internal team a chance, and they stepped up in a big way”
Insight
Webb: eBay required opposing white and black hat deal presentations for boards
“One of the things we did at eBay is we would have, you know, one of the things you worry about is deals get momentum and get excitement, and everybody gets aligned around that. And sometimes you're not willing to actually do the parade of horribles about what …”
Insight
Webb: A lack of market competition usually signals an unimportant problem
“If you don't have any competition, you're probably working on something that you actually, either you're so smart that no one else can figure out how to do and the world needs, or more likely, no one thinks they need it, and you might not be working on somethi…”
Insight
Webb: High-quality startups take over ten years to reach an IPO
“The good ones all take generally over 10 years to get to a liquidity event if it's going public”
Insight
Webb: Board members should operate on an 80/20 listening-to-talking ratio
“As a board member, you probably need to be 2080, talk 20% of the time, and listen 80% of the time, but you need to make sure your talk percentage is impactful.”