Chapter Summary
Silicon Valley is often seen as the ultimate destination for founders looking to build the next big thing. It’s a place where dreams can come true—but not for everyone.
For every success story like Google or Apple, there are countless startups that never make it, leaving behind founders with shattered dreams.
The dirty secret of Silicon Valley is that its definition of success is incredibly narrow: you’re either a unicorn, decacorn, hectocorn—or you’re a bust.
This mindset, driven by venture capitalists, focuses on finding the next billion-dollar company, often at the expense of countless other startups that don’t fit the mold.
It’s a system designed to prioritize investor returns over founder success, with many investors taking a "spray-and-pray" approach, hoping one out of thirty investments will pay off. But this approach leaves too many founders with nothing to show for their hard work.
My experience has taught me that there’s a better way. Building a successful startup doesn’t have to mean chasing impossible growth metrics or giving up control to investors.
It’s about being smart with your decisions, understanding the risks, and designing your own path to success. This chapter shares the lessons I’ve learned the hard way, including the importance of staying grounded and focused on what truly matters: building a sustainable business that serves its customers and rewards its founders.
