What Makes The Top 10% Of Founders Different? - Michael Seibel

Y Combinator CEO and Partner Michael Seibel on what makes the top 10% of founders different.

Topics
00:00 - What Makes The Top 10% Of Founders Different?
00:35 - Great founders execute
1:22 - Formidability
2:09 - Clear communication
3:40 - Internal motivation
4:52 - Note that "idea" is not on this list

[ycombinator]

00:00 - What Makes The Top 10% Of Founders Different?
00:35 - Great founders execute
1:22 - Formidability
2:09 - Clear communication
3:40 - Internal motivation
4:52 - Note that "idea" is not on this list

[william.darrigo]

To every other founder out there watching this video and chasing their dreams. Cheers!

[jacky]

1. Execute - Consistent ability to say what you are going to do, do it and learn from it. Never get stuck in the execution step.
2. Formidable - demand respect because you always execute
3. Clear Communication/Vision - articulate what they are working on to anyone
4. Internal Motivation - that they don't get too discouraged when things go wrong and stay motivated

[stephenobelisomeday]

Everything I heard Micheal Seibel, Y Combinator say and applied in my business from last year has worked. Not even 1 has failed.

[vkhang]

Michael Seibel never fails to deliver great and reliable advices.

[rudhisundar]

Thank you, Amit Shah! Thank you a lot!!

[adhdoers]

I'm gonna try to grade myself based on this video :
1- Execution : 8/10
2- Explaining what I do in 1 sentence: 5/10
3- Internal motivation: 10/10... Boy I've been failing for 4 years S.T.R.A.I.G.H.T my life is falling down because of my business, and I'm still going like I'm gonna make it tomorrow... Although, the business is finally paying off now after finding the product-market fit.

Good luck to everyone!

[vhg]

Spoiler:


1. Ability to execute
2. Formidable
3. Ability to clearly communicate what they working on
Bonus: Internal motivation

[henergynow]

Michael, thanks for the great feedback to the startup community. 1. Execute, 2. Formidability, 3. Communication, 4. Motivation.

[jdavidson]

Great insight - I would add these qualities are found in the top 10% of employees too

[chizzlemo]

these videos are so great. I already started a business a decade ago, its going fine. but this would have been useful to see back then. For my 2nd business now, great things will happen

[senamuku]

Been binging so many of YC’s videos honestly amazing this amount value is available for free!

[neurojitsu]

Very clear thinking, explanation and insight. Thank you. On the execution one, I think there is a complication: one's judgment about the task you are saying you will do. It leaves me wondering about a follow-up question on this: how do these founders judge and then commit to these things? Egs: are they superior in judging their priorities, or more realistic in balancing 'can-do' tendencies, or are there other judgment qualities that you can point to? Or am I over-thinking this LOL?

I am reminded of something Guy Kawasaki once said about the difference beteen corporate executives and entrepreneurs (I come from 20+ years corporate background, so I've struggled with the transition). He said if you give a new project to people, the execs will start formulating strategies and making plans. The entrepreneurs will think, what do I need to do next to move things forwards. And then they'll do that (and as you said, learn from it). Does this mindset difference between execs and entrepreneurs correlate in any way with the difference between the top 10% of founders and "the rest" in your experience? It's certainly something I'm still working on (and hopefully not thinking too much!)

[lootyhaga]

Man, I watch every one of these.


One thing I would love to hear, is "why" from the Y comb leadership team. Running a business is a lot of work, and I'd love to know why they're doing this. Successful business owners always have amazing answers to this question.

[brian]

This is one of the most important videos on YouTube. Simple, but powerful.

[WalshStrategy]

Still great info. So glad Y Combinator YT channel exists. Wish I found this sooner.

[snahhabu]

If you have the drive, execution, formidability, communication and passion will follow, I think. So Drive with clarity can be the key.

[wh]

Top 4 Skills for a TOP FOUNDER
REC.F
Relentless - Does not get deterred by mistakes or failures, not easily dissuaded
Execution - will complete their goals in some way and learn from it
Communication - Can communication what something is or they want to do concisely
Formidability - Continuously gets things done and is respected by others for it (gets it for free when you have Execution)

[smallbeetube]

Completely agree with you about "idea", want to reference a Chinese story "The Little Horse Crosses the River" for that, the idea is strongly tied to capability.

[AdeelKhan]

This is very timely for me. Thank you for sharing this super useful synthesis Michael Seibel.