A mentor once shared: "Instead of starting with the assumption of goodwill and subtracting for every misstep, approach every relationship with neutrality. Add points for positive interactions, and deduct for any suspicions, treating it as objectively as a bank evaluating its clients."
Inspired by my recent experiences and reflections from "Bad Blood," I've identified patterns in dishonest partnerships:
Overemphasis on Personal Branding: Partners who focus excessively on their branding often do so at the expense of tangible deliverables.
Inconsistencies: Small details that don't align with what they said about themselves can be early indicators of deeper issues. (e.g., be it a lack of industry knowledge or subpar professionalism)
Opaque Structures: Complex company or organizational structures make it challenging to grasp the full picture (even for their internal staff), suggesting possible concealment of critical information.
To navigate these challenges and build trustworthy partnerships, I've evolved my hypothesis of finding the right partners:
Verify Personal Credibility: Check the authenticity of their claims through mutual connections on social platforms.
Consult Previous Associates: Insights from former colleagues or partners can reveal potential red flags.
Understand Their Core: Understand their every details (e.g., for a SaaS startup, never trust them before seeing their product in action.)
Generative AI has advanced to the point where it can handle tasks that previously required human intervention. My hypothesis is that the DeFi projects that will succeed in this cycle are those that enhance user experience and drive broader adoption.
2024 has been a year of lessons and new beginnings. In the first part, I faced challenges with my startup in Saudi Arabia, learning the hard way that both internal decisions and uncontrollable external factors shape a venture's success. Though it didn’t work out, I gained valuable experience and connections. In the second part, I’ve been fortunate to start a new venture with a friend, developing models to process brainwave data. It’s an exciting and challenging path, and I’m hopeful for what’s to come.
Through my experiences, I've formed a method for starting a business from the ground up. This method combines lessons from the Lean Startup with my personal stories.
"Lan Yu" - a love story, set against the backdrop of a transformative period in Beijing, brings to light the complexity of love, power dynamics, and societal changes.
As a young entrepreneur fresh out of college, one of my biggest challenge was to find the right problem to solve. Here I try to provide my thoughts on this issue.
This article unfolds my journey through a co-founder departure, emphasizing the lessons learned in team building, the importance of aligning skills with startup needs, and fostering a growth-oriented company culture.
