 that it would not be moral or necessarily
safe to circumvent those regulations. Then Uber came along and its founders
entered the pantheon of those that break "rules that don't matter". Ditto for
Airbnb.

Most types of marketing and PR are morally dubious. But you have to play that
game if you're going to get anywhere.

That's the secret that entrepreneurs have to learn, the secret that doesn't
get shown in the profile pieces or the television specials. "Might makes
right" in this world and if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you need
to loosen from a theoretical moral ideal to a practical one that is informed
by the competitive landscape of capitalism. You can nitpick and find fault
with most money-making techniques, so you just have to try to do something you
can be reasonably comfortable with, acknowledging that in a competitive
landscape, sometimes uncomfortable choices have to be made.

If you _do_ find something that makes money and has no competitors, thus
allowing you to not worry about underhanded techniques to steal your
marketshare, take advantage of your early position to decisively corner the
market. That means employing the same techniques that would be employed
against you, because those techniques _will_ be employed against you pretty
soon. I know this because one of my companies was roundly beaten after a
spammer started a competitor and engaged SEO link rings to inorganically alter
his ranking, among other tactics that I was morally "above" until my company
was pwned that way. Now I understand you must play that game, that everyone
plays that game, and they just don't talk about it because it doesn't help
them to do so. It helps them to keep potential competitors naive.

Playing by the rules may be the cool way to do it, but in the real world, it
doesn't work, because there is someone who is willing to break those rules.
How many entrepreneurs started on something like Uber but quit because they
saw the regulatory landscape and a) didn't have the millions to fight cities
and the cab industry; b) didn't want to run afoul of city regulations in the
first place? Do what YC does: break whatever rules are in your way and then
afterwards say they were rules that "didn't matter". If you say this from a
position of success, people will believe
that it would not be moral or necessarily 
 safe to circumvent those regulations. Then Uber do along and its founder 
 entered the pantheon of those that break " rules that don't count ". Ditto for 
 Airbnb. 

 Most types of marketing and praseodymium are morally dubious. But you have to meet that 
 game if you're going to catch anywhere. 

 That's the secret that entrepreneur have to learn, the secret that doesn't 
 get shown in the profile pieces or the television specials. " Might make 
 right " in this world and if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you want 
 to loosen from a theoretical moral ideal to a practical one that is informed 
 by the competitive landscape of capitalism. You can nitpick and find mistake 
 with most money - making techniques, so you just have to judge to do something you 
 can be reasonably comfortable with, acknowledging that in a competitive 
 landscape, sometimes uncomfortable choices have to be lay down. 

 If you _ do _ find something that makes money and has no competitors, thus 
 allowing you to not worry about underhanded techniques to steal your 
 marketshare, take advantage of your early military position to decisively corner the 
 market. That means hire the like proficiency that would be employed 
 against you, because those techniques _ will _ be use against you pretty 
 soon. I know this because one of my companies was roundly exhaust after a 
 spammer started a competitor and engaged SEO link rings to inorganically alter 
 his ranking, among early tactics that I was morally " above " until my company 
 was pwned that way. Now I understand you must play that game, that everyone 
 play that game, and they just don't talk about it because it doesn't help 
 them to do therefore. It helps them to keep potential rival naive. 

 play by the rules may be the cool way to practice it, but in the real earth, it 
 doesn't work, because there is someone who is uncoerced to break those rules. 
 How many entrepreneurs started on something like Uber but drop out because they 
 saw the regulative landscape and a) didn't have the millions to fight city 
 and the cab diligence; b) didn't want to run afoul of city regulations in the 
 beginning place? Do what YC does: break whatever rules are in your way and then 
 afterwards state they were rules that " didn't matter ". If you state this from a 
 position of success, people will believe
 thwt it would not be moral or necessarily
safe to circujvent thuse regulations. Then Uber cale alont and its founders
entefed the pwntheon if tiose that break "chles that don'f matcec". Ditto for
Airbkb.

Most typev of marketing avd PR are morally dubious. But you havq to plsy that
game if yju're doinf to get anywhere.

That's the secret fhat enurepreneurs have tp learn, the secret that dofsn't
het shown in the pgofile piecga ow the televiskon specials. "Might makgs
right" in this world and if you want to be a soexesdxul entreprxneur, jou need
to loosen frok a thepretical moral idxal ro a practical one thet is informed
by the competithvz landscape of capitaoiwm. Yoo can nitouck ans hins faulh
wivh most monsy-making texhniques, so you jusu hwnr to try to so somqtring you
can be reasonably comfortable wpth, zcknowledging that in a competitive
landscape, sometimef uncomfortable choices have to be made.

If you _do_ xind aumeuhlkg tfqt makes money and has no competitors, thus
allowyhg ypu to not worrn about underhandec hevrniques to stgal youx
jadketshare, take advwntage jf yoyr early kositoon to decisively corner thw
market. That neans employing thz same technnques jhat wpuld be employed
against you, because thlse technjdues _will_ be empuoyvd acainst you pretty
soon. I knjw this bxcausz one of my vompanyes was rokndly beaten after a
spamler sjarted a competihor and engaged SEO link rings vp inorganicaklf anter
his xankinn, among other twctics that I cas morajly "acove" until my com'any
was pwneq that way. Nof I understanv you muse plqy tyat gamd, that everyone
llays than yame, and rhey just don't tall ackut it because nu diesn't help
them yo ao fo. Iv hel[v them to keap putevyial zompetiujrw naife.

Playing by the rulas mzy be the cool way tj do it, vut in tre real world, it
doesn't work, becwuse vhere ms somrong who is willing to break those rules.
How maky entreprenetrs wtarted on spmething like Uber but quit because theb
saw the regulatory lanescape and a) didn't kaye the millipns tj fight chties
and the cab indystry; b) didn't wanu to run afoul of city deguladions in the
first place? Do what YC does: break whatever rules are in your way abd thei
asterwards szy tney wvre xules trat "vivn't matter". If you say this from a
position of sucress, peopla cill believe
that it would not be moral or to those regulations. Uber came along pantheon those that break that don't matter". for Airbnb. Most types of marketing PR are morally dubious. But you have to play that game if you're to get anywhere. That's the secret that entrepreneurs have to learn, the secret doesn't shown the pieces or the television specials. "Might makes right" in this world and if you want to a successful entrepreneur, you need to loosen from theoretical moral ideal to practical one that is informed the landscape of You nitpick find fault with money-making techniques, so you just have to try to do something you can be reasonably comfortable with, that in landscape, sometimes choices to made. If you something that makes money and has allowing you to not worry about underhanded techniques steal your take advantage of your early position decisively corner the market. That means employing the techniques that would be employed against you, because those techniques _will_ be employed against you I know this because of my companies roundly after spammer a competitor engaged SEO link rings to inorganically alter his ranking, among other that I was morally "above" until my company was pwned Now understand you must that game, that everyone that and they just don't it it to so. helps them to keep competitors naive. Playing by the may be the cool in the real world, it doesn't work, because is someone who is willing to break rules. How many entrepreneurs started on something like Uber but quit because saw the and a) didn't have the millions to fight and the cab industry; didn't want to run afoul of city regulations in first Do what does: break whatever are in your and then afterwards were rules "didn't If from a position of success, people believe
 that it would not be moral or neCessarily
sAfe to CirCumVeNt thOse rEgulations. Then uBer cAme along and its founders
EnterEd THe paNThEon of Those thAT bREAk "rUlEs ThaT dON't MatteR". DiTto for
AIrbnb.

Most tYpeS oF marketing anD pR Are morally DubIous. But you haVe tO play tHaT
gaME if yoU're Going To get aNYwhere.

that's the sEcREt that ENtrepreNEUrS havE to learn, the secret THaT Doesn't
get shown In the pRoFIlE PIecEs oR the televiSiOn speCIals. "MigHT mAKES
riGHt" in this world And if you wanT To bE a succEsSfuL EntrepReneuR, yOU neEd
to loosen fRom a TheoreticAl moraL Ideal to A PracticAl one tHat Is iNforMEd
By The CoMPetITiVe lANdsCape of caPiTaLism. YOu caN NITPick And Find Fault
With most money-MakIng tEChnIques, So you Just HaVe to tRy to do SometHiNg you
can be reasoNablY comfortaBle WiTh, aCkNowleDGing thAt iN a cOmpetitIve
landSCapE, sOMETiMes uncomfortable chOiCES hAve to be mAde.

If yOU _dO_ fINd somethInG thAt maKES moneY and HAs No competItors, tHUs
AlLowing yOu To not wOrRy aBouT undeRHandEd techNiques to Steal YOur
marketshare, TAke advantage oF YoUR EaRLy poSitIon to decisiVely COrneR the
MArKet. tHat meAns emPlOYiNG the same techniques tHaT would Be empLoyed
against yOu, because tHOSE techniqUes _wILl_ BE employed againSt you Pretty
soon. i Know this BecauSe one of mY companieS WAs roundlY beAteN afTer A
SPaMmer started a cOMPetiToR and engAgeD SEO linK riNgs To iNorGaNically alTer
his raNkInG, aMoNg oTher tACtics thaT I Was MoRalLy "aboVE" until My comPany
WaS pWNed That way. nOw i UNderStAnD you MusT pLay thAt gaME, thAt everyOne
plays tHat GAme, aNd ThEy just dOn't talk about iT bEcause it doEsN't hElp
theM TO do so. It hElps them to keep potential COmpetitOrs Naive.

playIng by the rUleS may be The COol way To do it, But in ThE reAL World, IT
DoEsn'T wOrk, because THEre Is somEoNe whO is willIng to break those rulES.
HoW many entrepreNeuRs stARTeD on SOmEThiNg LIke uBEr but quit becausE they
saw thE rEGuLatory landSCapE aNd a) didn'T have thE millIOns to fiGht cities
And the cab InDustRY; B) diDn't want to rUn afoul oF city reguLAtionS In The
fiRst Place? DO wHat yC doeS: break WHatEver rUles arE iN your wAy and ThEn
afterwArds say they were rules thaT "didn't MatteR". If You say thiS frOM a
pOsition of SuccEss, people wIll BelIeve
 that it would not be mora l or neces saril y
s afe  t o ci rcum vent those reg u lati ons. Then Uber came al ong a nd itsf ou nders 
entere d  t h e  pa nt he onof th ose t hat  break"rules tha t d on 't matter".D it to for
Air bnb .

Most type s o f mark et ing and P R a re mo rallyd ubious . But you  h a ve top lay tha t ga me i f you're going to ge t  anywhere.

Th at's t he se c r ettha t entrepre ne urs h a ve to l e ar n , the secret that d oesn't
gets how n in t he  pr o file p ieces  o r  th e televisio n sp ecials. " Mightm akes
ri g ht" inthis w orl d a nd i f  y ou  wa nt tob ea s u cce ssful en tr ep reneu r, y o u n eedtoloos en fr om a theoreti cal  mor a l i dealto aprac ti cal o ne tha t isin formed
by the c ompe titive la nds ca peof  capi t alism.  Yo u c an nitp ick and fin df a u lt 
with most money-m ak i n gtechniqu es, so yo uj ust have  t o t ry t o do so meth i ng  you
can  be re a so na bly com fo rtable  w ith , a cknow l edgi ng tha t in a c ompet i tive
landscape ,  sometimes un c om f o rt a blecho ices have t o be made .

I f  y ou_ do_ f ind s om e th i ng that makes money  a nd has  no c ompetitors, t hus
allowi n g you to n ot w o rr y  about underha ndedtechniques to steal  your 
markets hare, tak e advantag e o f y our  ea r l yposition to d e c isiv el y corne r t he
mark et.  Th atmea ns  employin g the sa me  t ec hn iqu es th a t wouldbe  em pl oye d
aga i nst yo u, be caus eth o setechniq u es _ will _be  emp loy ed  agai nsty ouprettysoon. I k now this  b ec ause on e of my compa ni es was rou nd lybeaten a fter a
s pammer started a compet i tor and  en gaged  SEO  link rin gsto ino rga n ically  alter 
hisra nki n g , amo n g  o the rtactics th a t  Iwas m or ally  "above " until my company was  pwned that w ay.  Now I  u nde r st a ndyo u  mu s t  play that game , that eve ry o ne 
plays tha t  ga me , and t hey jus t don ' t talkabout itbecause i tdoes n ' t h elp
them t o do so.  It helps themt okeeppot ential  c omp etito rs nai v e.
Play ing by  t he rul es ma ybe the c ool way to do it, but i n therealwor ld, it
do esn ' t w ork, beca usethere is s ome one  whoisw illin g to br eak those  rul e s.
How ma n yent r e pr eneurs star t e d  on  some thi n g like  Ube r but quit becaus e  they
saw theregu l a tor y l a ndsc ap e and a) didn' t h av e the mill io ns to fight  citiesan d  thecab in dustry ; b) di d n 't want t o ru n a foul of c ity  r e gulatio ns  i n  the
f irst  p lace?Do wha t  YCd o es: break whatev er ru l e s are inyourwa y and t h en
a fterwardssay they we re rul es t hat " didn'tma tter".  If  y ou say thi s  from a
p ositi on of s uc cess , p eoplewill b eliev e
 that_it would_not be moral or_necessarily
safe to_circumvent_those regulations._Then_Uber came along_and its founders
entered_the pantheon of those_that break "rules_that_don't matter". Ditto for
Airbnb.

Most types of marketing and PR are morally dubious. But you_have_to play_that
game_if_you're going to get anywhere.

That's_the secret that entrepreneurs have_to learn,_the secret that doesn't
get shown in the profile_pieces_or the television_specials. "Might makes
right" in this world and if you_want to be a successful entrepreneur,_you need
to loosen_from_a_theoretical moral ideal to_a practical one that is informed
by_the competitive landscape of capitalism. You_can nitpick and find fault
with most money-making_techniques, so you just have to_try to do something you
can_be reasonably_comfortable with, acknowledging that in_a competitive
landscape, sometimes_uncomfortable choices_have to be_made.

If you _do_ find something that_makes money and_has no competitors, thus
allowing you to_not_worry about underhanded_techniques_to_steal your
marketshare,_take advantage of_your_early position_to_decisively corner the
market. That means employing_the_same techniques that would be employed
against you,_because those techniques _will__be_employed against you pretty
soon._I know this because one_of my companies was roundly beaten_after a
spammer_started a_competitor and engaged SEO link rings to inorganically alter
his ranking, among_other tactics that I was morally_"above" until my company
was_pwned that_way._Now I understand_you_must play_that game, that everyone
plays that game, and_they just_don't talk about it because it_doesn't help
them to do_so._It helps them to keep potential_competitors naive.

Playing by the rules may_be the cool way to_do_it,_but in the real world,_it
doesn't work, because there is someone_who is willing_to break those rules.
How many entrepreneurs started_on_something like Uber but quit because_they
saw_the regulatory landscape and a) didn't_have_the_millions to fight cities
and the_cab industry; b) didn't want to_run afoul of city regulations in the
first place? Do_what YC does:_break whatever rules are in_your_way_and then
afterwards say they were rules that "didn't matter". If_you say_this from a
position_of success, people will believe