Be a Student of the Game: The Secrets of Startup Success. Sam Decker

Tech Executive Sam Decker
Tech Executive Sam Decker

Sam Decker (@samdecker) is an experienced start-up executive and advisor who has worked at iconic tech companies like Apple. Sam was the founding CMO at Bazaarvoice, founder of Mass Relevance (now Spredfast) and recently founded the digital optimization company, clearhead.

However, it turns out there is a very low-tech way Sam accomplishes so much. He’s learned the secret for startup success is to simply “get uncomfortable.” As you’ll learn, this practice has helped Sam push himself to start new companies and fill the gaps of knowledge.

In this episode, we also talk about:

  • How to be a student of the game
  • The advice he thinks most startups need to hear
  • The biggest mistakes new startups make
  • What tying knots, race car driving, and flying helicopters have to do with startups
  • How time tradeoffs are like “pruning a bonsai tree”
  • His time-management process, focused on desired outcomes
  • Sam’s role in Kirk’s book, Predictive Leadership


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