The Obsessiveness Signal
Naval: One common trait I found among the great companies — the founders are in it for the long haul. The way you see it is that very early on, they are extremely deliberate about all kinds of small decisions. Stuff you might think doesn't matter — why are you obsessing over this?
What you realize is it's their nature. They feel like they're laying the bricks and foundations of a skyscraper. They have to get every little detail right. Sometimes that obsessiveness drives you crazy — always questioning, tweaking, tweaking. But when you look back, you realize that's the mark of someone thinking really far forward.
They feel like they're laying the foundations of a skyscraper. Every little detail has to be right.
The Flippant Signal
Naval: The people who are flippant about things, willing to just take it as it comes — they're often signaling to you and maybe even to themselves that they'll sell the company the first chance they get. Or the moment it looks like they'll run out of cash, they'll shut down.
Long-term mentality is probably the single most important indicator of an entrepreneur's success. But it's by no means the only thing. Most startups fail. You just got to stick with it.
People who are flippant are signaling they'll sell at the first chance. Long-term mentality is the most important indicator.