Agency Is Everything
Naval: The thing I'd add is agency. People who just solve problems without even being asked. They identify the problem, go solve it. They don't necessarily even update you every step of the way. They're not asking silly questions. They're just coming up with solutions.
Building a startup is an infinite set of problems being thrown at you. There comes a day when you realize — I can't even look at every problem, let alone think about it, let alone solve it.
People who identify problems and solve them without being asked. That's agency.
The Math of Management
Naval: As Vinod Khosla famously said — the team you build is the company you build. Your ability to solve problems is based entirely on how many problem solvers you have below you.
If somebody takes 10% of your time in management, you can only have 10 of those people. If somebody takes 5%, you can have 20. People who are low ego, take agency, solve problems, don't thump their chest about it — they just get stuff done.
If someone takes 10% of your time, you can have 10. If 5%, you can have 20. Low ego, high agency.
The Navy SEAL Team
Naval: When we were building the teams at AngelList and Air Chat, I used to think of it like a Navy SEAL team. Everyone is really good at what they do. They know their job. They do it. They don't complain. They're not egotistical about it.
If they have to constantly be corrected, or led around by the nose, or you have to clean up after them, or question their judgment — it's not going to work out.
Like a Navy SEAL team — everyone knows their job, does it, doesn't complain. If you have to lead them by the nose, it won't work.