The Startup Hats

"I know I have a spotlight on me, and my team is looking at me to show them the way. What I've learned about over the years, and what you'll hear about in this chapter, is leadership is not about being the smartest or the loudest in the room. It's about listening and gathering information from smart people so you can make the best decisions. It's not about short-term wins. It's about big picture strategy. It's not about being liked. It's about being respected. The leader's hat is a heavy hat to wear, but it's so important to the success of your business." - Andy Jones, President, Forrest Firm

This is Chapter 11: The Leader's Hat

The author of Startup Hats is David Gardner, a seven-time successful startup entrepreneur who now spends his time advising and investing in early stage companies at his venture capital firm Cofounders Capital. Working with startups ranging from software to breweries, David provides firsthand knowledge of what founders need to know to be successful – how to think critically, master time management, and avoid disastrous mistakes.

A new chapter of Startup Hats will be released each week, but if you’d like the audiobook now, it’s available on Audible now!

"The sales reps are the ears and eyes for potential customers. No matter how much YOU love your new business, your good idea only matters if people will pay for it. Your sales reps will be the first to know if you have product market fit. If every deal is an uphill battle, it may not indicate that you’ve hired a bad rep, it could be a warning signal about the demand for your product. With that in mind, it’s essential that you make smart investments in sales as you grow your startup." - Brad McGinity, Chief Revenue Officer, 15Five

This is Chapter 10: The Sales Manager's Hat

The author of Startup Hats is David Gardner, a seven-time successful startup entrepreneur who now spends his time advising and investing in early stage companies at his venture capital firm Cofounders Capital. Working with startups ranging from software to breweries, David provides firsthand knowledge of what founders need to know to be successful – how to think critically, master time management, and avoid disastrous mistakes.

A new chapter of Startup Hats will be released each week, but if you’d like the audiobook now, it’s available on Audible now!

"Something a founder might be surprised about is the amount of negotiating he or she will do on a daily basis. Negotiating with vendors, with those first clients, recruits, initial investors, and eventually with the people or companies who are looking to buy the business. Through it all, founders need to know tactics and tricks that people on the other side of the table will be using to prevent fair market deals from happening." - Adam Goldblatt, Attorney at Forrest Firm

This is Chapter 9: The Negotiator's Hat

The author of Startup Hats is David Gardner, a seven-time successful startup entrepreneur who now spends his time advising and investing in early stage companies at his venture capital firm Cofounders Capital. Working with startups ranging from software to breweries, David provides firsthand knowledge of what founders need to know to be successful – how to think critically, master time management, and avoid disastrous mistakes.

A new chapter of Startup Hats will be released each week, but if you’d like the audiobook now, it’s available on Audible now!

"In my experience, the Manager's Hat is one of the most difficult hats to wear because founders simply can't clone themselves. How can you possibly trust others with your baby? How can you possibly be comfortable with someone carrying on a task in a different way than you would approach it? If you're hoping to grow your business, you absolutely must become a master at wearing the Manager's Hat." - Jason Williamson, Vice President, Oracle for Startups

This is Chapter 8: The Manager's Hat

The author of Startup Hats is David Gardner, a seven-time successful startup entrepreneur who now spends his time advising and investing in early stage companies at his venture capital firm Cofounders Capital. Working with startups ranging from software to breweries, David provides firsthand knowledge of what founders need to know to be successful – how to think critically, master time management, and avoid disastrous mistakes.

A new chapter of Startup Hats will be released each week, but if you’d like the audiobook now, it’s available on Audible now!

"I've hired family members, friends, former clients, people I've met at networking events, church, block parties - and even the guy from Craigslist I sold my iPhone to. And they're now some of my best employees. You ALWAYS need to be recruiting. The success of your company will live and die based on the people that are on your team, so nothing is more important than recruiting the right talent." - Jon Harol, President, Lighthouse Lab Services

This is Chapter 7: The Recruiter's Hat

The author of Startup Hats is David Gardner, a seven-time successful startup entrepreneur who now spends his time advising and investing in early stage companies at his venture capital firm Cofounders Capital. Working with startups ranging from software to breweries, David provides firsthand knowledge of what founders need to know to be successful – how to think critically, master time management, and avoid disastrous mistakes.

A new chapter of Startup Hats will be released each week, but if you’d like the audiobook now, it’s available on Audible now!

"Make sure you have an elevator pitch for multiple audiences. Don't wait too long before you start selling. The reality is you need to start selling day one, and you'll figure things out as you go.  You also don't want to be a rhinoceros. You don't want to be someone who's got a big head and little ears. You want to listen well so that you can adapt the pitch to the need. You might learn something you had not thought about." - Michael Jongkind, Founder of Religent Health on the importance of sales in running a startup.

This is Chapter 6: The Sales Hat

The author of Startup Hats is David Gardner, a seven-time successful startup entrepreneur who now spends his time advising and investing in early stage companies at his venture capital firm Cofounders Capital. Working with startups ranging from software to breweries, David provides firsthand knowledge of what founders need to know to be successful – how to think critically, master time management, and avoid disastrous mistakes.

A new chapter of Startup Hats will be released each week, but if you’d like the audiobook now, it’s available on Audible now!

"Regardless of the type of company you have, or the budget you can work with, the right marketing is critical for your success.
In this chapter, David Gardner provides practical and useful advice and free marketing tactics that every entrepreneur needs to know" - Amie Thompson, CEO, Creative Allies

This is Chapter 5: The Marketer's Hat

The author of Startup Hats is David Gardner, a seven-time successful startup entrepreneur who now spends his time advising and investing in early stage companies at his venture capital firm Cofounders Capital. Working with startups ranging from software to breweries, David provides firsthand knowledge of what founders need to know to be successful – how to think critically, master time management, and avoid disastrous mistakes.

A new chapter of Startup Hats will be released each week, but if you’d like the audiobook now, it’s available on Audible now!

 "Do you know what kind of company you’re building and what business you want to be in? How do you lay the right foundation? How do you get to a place where you have something that delivers a customer experience that your customers value and appreciate and are willing to pay for? And how do you do that based on the time you have based on the money you’ve raised?" - Mike Schneider, First.io CEO

This is Chapter 4: The Construction Hat

The author of Startup Hats is David Gardner, a seven-time successful startup entrepreneur who now spends his time advising and investing in early stage companies at his venture capital firm Cofounders Capital. Working with startups ranging from software to breweries, David provides firsthand knowledge of what founders need to know to be successful – how to think critically, master time management, and avoid disastrous mistakes.

A new chapter of Startup Hats will be released each week, but if you’d like the audiobook now, it’s available on Audible now!

 "Fund raising can be all consuming, but it's absolutely necessary to the success of your business, both short-term and long-term" - David Morris, Managing Partner, Forrest Firm Durham. 

This is Chapter 3: The Banker's Hat

The author of Startup Hats is David Gardner, a seven-time successful startup entrepreneur who now spends his time advising and investing in early stage companies at his venture capital firm Cofounders Capital. Working with startups ranging from software to breweries, David provides firsthand knowledge of what founders need to know to be successful – how to think critically, master time management, and avoid disastrous mistakes.

A new chapter of Startup Hats will be released each week, but if you’d like the audiobook now, it’s available on Audible now!

“A flower doesn’t blossom without the right nutrients, water, soil, and sunlight; and neither does a company. The journey of a founder is just that – a journey.  And while often unpredictable, prioritizing just enough structure to cultivate the creative vision increases the probability for success.” – Molly Demarest, Former General Manager of American Underground.

This is Chapter 2: The Navigator’s Hat

The author of Startup Hats is David Gardner, a seven-time successful startup entrepreneur who now spends his time advising and investing in early stage companies at his venture capital firm Cofounders Capital. Working with startups ranging from software to breweries, David provides firsthand knowledge of what founders need to know to be successful – how to think critically, master time management, and avoid disastrous mistakes.

A new chapter of Startup Hats will be released each week, but if you’d like the audiobook now, it’s available on Audible now!