Comments on: Mark Cuban’s Rules for Startups http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/mark-cubans-rules-for-startups/ Online Dating Industry Consulting & Commentary Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:50:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Craig http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/mark-cubans-rules-for-startups/comment-page-1/#comment-154288 Craig Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:58:40 +0000 http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/mark-cubans-rules-for-startups/#comment-154288 You know, it's funny, people's personal experiences and how other people try to replicate those personal experiences into their own. There are many keys to launching successfully. The time of year you strike may play such a role that you run out of funds by the time your prime season rolls around but it's too late to make the impact you need. Don’t start a company unless its an obsession you love. (Very True) If you have an exit strategy, its not an obsession. (Tell that to your VC's or your Angels, see how much funding you score) Hire people who will love working. (True True, but don't let that haunt you out of hiring a proven performer) Know how your company will make money. (Absolutely) Know your core competencies and pay up for people. (Yes, plan for performance bonuses) Outside core competencies, hire people cheap. (strategic though, not just cheap or you'll get what you pay for and lose ground instead of gain it) Shoot yourself before you spend money on an expresso machine. (unless your key players that you pay "so much" for request it) No offices. There is nothing private in a start up. (Agreed) As far as technology, go with what you know. (And be aware of the limit of what you know) Keep the organization flat. (sure) Never buy swag. (make it strong in how it is delivered. If you logo up a thousand $1 ponchos and you happen to be at an industry function when it starts to pour down rain, now your logo is running around the streets outside the function like a disrupted hornets nest. SCORE!) Never hire a PR firm. (Never??, NEVER??? sounds personal) Make the job fun for employees. Reward them. My first company, I would walk around handing out 100 dollar bills to salespeople. (don't lose focus of your core goals in the process. Coffee is for closers, remember?) You know, it’s funny, people’s personal experiences and how other people try to replicate those personal experiences into their own.
There are many keys to launching successfully.
The time of year you strike may play such a role that you run out of funds by the time your prime season rolls around but it’s too late to make the impact you need.

Don’t start a company unless its an obsession you love. (Very True)
If you have an exit strategy, its not an obsession. (Tell that to your VC’s or your Angels, see how much funding you score)
Hire people who will love working. (True True, but don’t let that haunt you out of hiring a proven performer)
Know how your company will make money. (Absolutely)
Know your core competencies and pay up for people. (Yes, plan for performance bonuses)
Outside core competencies, hire people cheap. (strategic though, not just cheap or you’ll get what you pay for and lose ground instead of gain it)
Shoot yourself before you spend money on an expresso machine. (unless your key players that you pay “so much” for request it)
No offices. There is nothing private in a start up. (Agreed)
As far as technology, go with what you know. (And be aware of the limit of what you know)
Keep the organization flat. (sure)
Never buy swag. (make it strong in how it is delivered. If you logo up a thousand $1 ponchos and you happen to be at an industry function when it starts to pour down rain, now your logo is running around the streets outside the function like a disrupted hornets nest. SCORE!)
Never hire a PR firm. (Never??, NEVER??? sounds personal)
Make the job fun for employees. Reward them. My first company, I would walk around handing out 100 dollar bills to salespeople. (don’t lose focus of your core goals in the process. Coffee is for closers, remember?)

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