The best engineers today are not just coders; they are also great product thinkers, business strategists, and designers, as the focus shifts from merely building to understanding what to build that adds value.

Mediocre engineers do not build great companies; this is especially true in startups where every hire can impact the culture significantly.

The value of a company often lies in the custom business logic that is tailored to specific needs, which is crucial in software development.

When building software, it's generally scalable, but founders often struggle with service-based businesses that require high-skill human labor.

As you build your company, focus on bringing in the right engineering team to ensure your success.

The obsession with hiring as many smart engineers as possible, regardless of the company's needs, became a common practice among startups, reflecting a superficial understanding of what truly drives success.

The best software products are built by individuals whose cognitive processes differ significantly from the average, highlighting the uniqueness of top talent, and to appreciate talent, you need to be within a standard deviation of that talent; otherwise, larger institutions struggle to recognize exceptional individuals.

The best business founders recruit amazing technical co-founders, which is the number one distinction that sets them apart.

Building a great team is as crucial as selecting the right market and developing a great product; the team you build is essentially the company you create.