Rule 1: Hire people smarter than you and get out of the way.
Rule 0: Team up with an off the charts smart partner and increase your odds of winning by a factor of 100x.
When I first kicked off this idea, the single most important thing I knew I had to do was get a partner who would lock onto this idea, go way beyond my thinking, and be my trusted ally to get this baby over the finish line.
Meet Shyam Sheth, my partner.
Shyam is a former Google rockstar having been involved in the Google Mobile App development as a Product Manager. The man is a product delivering machine. His CV is loaded with shipping product. He's smart, customer focused, passionate, and has been contributing to the company exactly 6 second after he met up with me. He's been quietly (but firmly) working the product side of the house.
Note it says "team up" not hire. I didn't hire Shyam, we teamed up and have spent 100s of hours together on products, ideas, roadmaps, etc. Together; as a team. We aren't hung up on titles, egos, etc. We have both put in big chunks of our own money, are equal, and we are in sync when it comes to where we want to go. We, together are now on the hunt for smarter people: see rule one.
And he has 1.8 million fans! From October 2008, I bring you my partner and mobile Gmail which has been viewed 1.8 million (and one; me) times:
But, wait, there's more. From June 3rd, a little Android launch love.
I'm delighted to finally be able to talk about my partner, we're rocking! And the Android app is really looking outstanding!
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