The bottom line is: manage hype, and don't buy into your own. One of the most interesting takeaways I got from hearing Eric Ries speak a few weeks ago, is how toxic hype can be to startups not just in the press, but also among investors, friends, family, etc. As entrepreneurs we face myriad challenges and problems to be overcome between vision and product execution, and these massive expectations that we build up can be a huge barrier when it comes time to make tough decisions and revisit product strategy, especially when (not if) things don't go as well as we would like the first time we deliver products into customers' hands.