The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

Ben Horowitz · First published March 4th 2014

A lot of people talk about how great it is to start a business, but only Ben Horowitz is brutally honest about how hard it is to run one.

In The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Ben Horowitz, cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz and one of Silicon Valley’s most respected and experienced entrepreneurs, draws on his own story of founding, running, selling, buying, managing, and investing in technology companies to offer essential advice and practical wisdom for navigating the toughest problems business schools don’t cover. His blog has garnered a devoted following of millions of readers who have come to rely on him to help them run their businesses. A lifelong rap fan, Horowitz amplifies business lessons with lyrics from his favorite songs and tells it straight about everything from firing friends to poaching competitors, from cultivating and sustaining a CEO mentality to knowing the right time to cash in.

His advice is grounded in anecdotes from his own hard-earned rise—from cofounding the early cloud service provider Loudcloud to building the phenomenally successful Andreessen Horowitz venture capital firm, both with fellow tech superstar Marc Andreessen (inventor of Mosaic, the Internet’s first popular Web browser).

The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers” is a book by Ben Horowitz that provides insights and lessons for entrepreneurs on how to successfully navigate the challenges of building a business.

1. Embrace the reality of being an entrepreneur: Running a business is difficult, but the challenges can be managed with the right mindset and approach.
2. Be prepared to make tough decisions: Tough decisions are a necessary part of running a business and should be made quickly and with confidence.
3. Focus on the problem, not the person: When dealing with conflict, it is important to keep the focus on solving the problem rather than attacking the person.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Building a successful business often requires help from others, so don’t be afraid to reach out for support.
5. Hire people smarter than you: Hiring talented people is key to success, and you should strive to build a team of people who are smarter and more experienced than you.
6. Manage your time effectively: Time management is critical for entrepreneurs, and you should prioritize tasks and focus on the most important activities.
7. Be open to change: Be open to change and be willing to pivot your business if necessary in order to succeed.
8. Stay focused on your goals: Maintaining focus on your goals will help you stay motivated and on track during difficult times.
9. Celebrate your successes: Celebrating small wins along the way will help keep you motivated and give you a sense of progress.
10. Learn from failure: Failure is inevitable in business, but it is important to learn from your mistakes and use them as opportunities for growth.