Hire and promote first on the basis of integrity; second, motivation; third, capacity; fourth, understanding; fifth, knowledge; and last and least, experience. Without integrity, motivation is dangerous; without motivation, capacity is impotent; without capacity, understanding is limited; without understanding, knowledge is meaningless; without knowledge, experience is blind. Experience is easy to provide and quickly put to good use by people with all the other qualities.

source

Another way to decrease the risk is to join an existing startup instead of starting your own. Being one of the first employees of a startup is a lot like being a founder, in both the good ways and the bad. – Paul Graham

How do tiny companies with no money seem to do the impossible, while bigger, more established companies struggle?

Startups hire smart, energetic people with a lot of potential, while established businesses often look for someone to come do the same job that he did at his last workplace, and nothing more. Who do you think gets better results?

We’re part of something bigger, not just counting days ’til the weekend or tallying up freelance hours. We’re here to change the world!

Source: oDesk