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# 10 rules for startups
- URL: https://werd.io/10-rules-for-startups/
- Published: 2012-03-03T00:40:28.000Z
- Updated: 2025-06-12T11:00:42.000Z
- Author: Ben Werdmuller
- Tags: Consultancy, #ben-684a32da145d7d001be71dae, General, 37 signals, advice, business, startups, steve jobs, #Migrated-1749693130536, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2025-06-11 21:52

1. The user isn't [the product being sold](http://lifehacker.com/5697167/if-youre-not-paying-for-it-youre-the-product). The user is the customer.
2. Startups become big by empowering their customers with great products and services that allow them to do things that were previously difficult or impossible.
3. A company is a group of people with a shared goal.
4. Everyone deserves a chance to [make progress on meaningful work](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/opinion/sunday/do-happier-people-work-harder.html).
5. [Stay hungry. Stay foolish.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/steve-jobs-told-students-stay-hungry-stay-foolish/2011/10/05/gIQA1qVjOL%5Fblog.html)
6. [You aren't Steve Jobs, so don't be a jerk](http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidcoursey/2011/10/12/steve-jobs-was-a-jerk-you-shouldnt-be/).
7. Meetings are [toxic](http://gettingreal.37signals.com/ch07%5FMeetings%5FAre%5FToxic.php), but necessary. Manage them in a constructive way.
8. Everything is a conversation.
9. Everyone must bring something to the table. There is no room for "ideas guys".
10. Businesses make money.