A business is comprised of four major disciplines:
- Product (technical) – someone who has a vision and can make it a reality.
- Commercial (sales) – someone who can sell the product.
- Operations (process) – someone who can scale the startup.
- Finance (finance) – someone who can ensure maximum cashflow and access to capital.
Very few people are world-class at more than one of these attributes, nevermind all four.
If you want to increase your odds of success you need to ensure have a partner that is world-class in each of these areas.
In other words, you need to find partners that complement you.
Before you can find partners, you need know what you are good at.
Product, sales, finance or operations. Pick one and then you need to go out of your way to avoid the other disciplines.
Its easy to try and be the best at everything. Harder to accept that most people can only be the best at one thing.
Focus on the one thing in the world that you are world-class. Find partners for the rest.
Then take over the world.