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msusteron Want to know the difference between a CTO and a VP Engineering?

I'm with ya.

msusteron Want to know the difference between a CTO and a VP Engineering?

You couldn't be further off base. I've built two companies from scratch and I did all of the "cleaning the trash" work as did all my team members.

Nevertheless, it takes different skill types to build a technology organization. Some will be super technical while some will be more process driven. Some will be inspired to work on all of the latest technologies but hate doing garden-variety feature coding or bug fixing while some people are great utility players.

My post was silent on the issue of whether people with "titles" should do grunt work. And to imply that I said otherwise is a misrepresentation of the post.

msusteron Don’t be a Grin Fucker

That. And don't be a grin fucker. Tell people when you think they're full of it. Politely. Respectfully. But tell them.

msusteron Don’t be a Grin Fucker

Ha. Yeah, but titles work. Newspapers learned that years ago. Hope the title wasn't too offensive - just want to make a point.

msusteron Don’t be a Grin Fucker

I agree! Got any spare MIPS?

msusteron Why The ‘Fail Fast’ Mantra Needs to Fail

My first "rub" is that people launch products too quickly without thinking / planning first. Measure twice, cut once. I'm all for MVP and learn but not without planning first. My second "rub" is the one you identify. People use the "fail fast" mantra as an excuse to give up early if it doesn't work.

msusteron Why The ‘Fail Fast’ Mantra Needs to Fail

Your analogy is off base. The opposite of "fail fast" is not "living in dreams for years." The arguments is: spend time planning before your launch (measure twice, cut once) and don't give up easily if the first iteration doesn't work.

msusteron What Makes an Entrepreneur? Cojones

I honestly think you missed the point of the post. The main point I tried to make was that I get pitched by people all the time who are still in their day jobs. I understand hedging your bets on your startup. I'm just trying to point out (rightly or wrongly) that most VCs will see this as a red flag.

How is that self congratulatory bull-shit?

msusteron What Makes an Entrepreneur? Cojones

No, not really. On my blog I often talk about the things that I F'd up along the way. Probably more articles on that than self congratulations. I did some things well, I did some things poorly. I use examples from life because I think it makes it easier to read than just management speak. But I understand how this series could be perceived that way.

msusteron Who should you hire at a startup?

The point of my article is not to hire the "perfect" person - to the contrary. People will advise you to hire the "perfect" person based on what they did in the past. The point of my article was to say hire the person who hasn't done this level before but is high potential. In every group hiring discussion I've ever been in people argue for the most senior person. I always argue against it.

msusteron Who should you hire at a startup?

The people who give this advice have never built a successful startup IMHO. It's bad advice. Many people give it. Conventional wisdom seldom pays.

msusteron Who should you hire at a startup?

You're totally right. But for young people it's not just about the pay off on the first company. The can learn at the first company or two and earn on the third or fourth.

But the truth is that unless you hit the lottery ticket (e.g. Google) you only really make big money at startups by founding them or being a senior exec.

msusteron Who should you hire at a startup?

Listen, you have a point. But for starters I think it would be hard for me to say that in a post without pissing off too many more people.

But the reality is this - for young people it's not always about the upside. I tell people, "you need to decide whether you want to learn or you want to earn." If it's the former go work as a 0.1-0.25% owner in a startup. You won't make retirement money.

If you want to "earn" you need to be there at the start or near to it.

msusteron Who should you hire at a startup?

Yes, many people tell you this, including VCs. That's why I wrote the post. The problem is that much advice you get as a startup is bad. If someone's done it before listen closely and make up your own mind whether they have the right answers. If someone has only sat on the sidelines be more circumspect.

The unfortunately reality of life is that most advice is bad and it takes people who swim against conventional wisdom to do great things.