THE RULES OF THE ROAD

Since starting a venture capital firm a few years ago, I’ve met plenty of entrepreneurs who are being led astray by others—hungry vulture capitalists, misinformed mentors, and three-office-hours-a-week professors who love to give everyone A’s. But enough about those guys—for now at least.

Let’s talk instead about the entrepreneurs who lead themselves astray. They spend years careering down a bumpy road, certain that success is just around the bend, when what they really need to do is pull over, get out of the truck, and take a long, hard look at the map.

I’m guessing that with all that’s happened this year, some of you are already doing that. And yet it’s amazing how fixated entrepreneurs can be. Because every day is devoted to their quest, it becomes a part of them, and they can lose all ability