What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture

by Ben Horowitz

only those who have endured hardship will be of use. Samurai who have never erred before will never have what it takes. —Hagakure

you see something below standard and do nothing, then you’ve set a new standard.

virtues are what you do, while values are merely what you believe.

For a culture to stick, it must reflect the leader’s actual values, not just those he thinks sound inspiring. Because a leader creates culture chiefly by his actions—by example.

Integrity, honesty, and decency are long-term cultural investments. Their purpose is not to make the quarter, beat a competitor, or attract a new employee. Their purpose is to create a better place to work and to make the company a better one to do business with in the long run. This value does not come for free. In the short run it may cost you deals, people, and investors, which is why most companies cannot bring themselves to actually, really, enforce it.

He saw what was right under his nose so well because he saw no further.

One way to remember who you are is to remember who your heroes are.”

frugality, is defined as Accomplish more with less. Constraints breed resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention. There are no extra points for growing head count, budget size, or fixed expenses.