Marc Andreessen has been on a tear lately with some very informative and insigtful blog posts. Why it took him so long to join the blogoshpere is a question only he can answer, but we are all thankful that he is finally here.

His post today on why not to do a startup is absolutely brilliant. It seems by the title that it is a bit contradictory to his professional career considering that he has started several companies (Netscape, Opsware and Ning to name a few), but he lays out what is to be expected when you start a startup, and let’s you decide if you are up for the challenge. Some of the highlights include: it is an emotional roller coaster, nothing happens unless you make it happen, you get told no - a lot, hiring is a total pain, lots of hours and the X factor. These are just a few of his reasons for not doing it, but obviously it did not stop him nor should it stop you.

It is definitely not for the faint at heart, but if you are considering starting your own company, you better make sure you can stomach what he has laid out and maybe you might get lucky and make it.

Some of his other great posts of late include:

1. The truth about venture capitalists part 1 (and 2 and 3)
2. How to hire the best people you’ve ever worked with
3. Bubbles on the brain

Time and time again it has been proven to me that it is more of who you know than what you know. It never ceases to amaze me at how many business deals, jobs or connections are made solely off of friends, colleagues, old bosses and former co-workers.

You spend all your early years going to school learning your trade, racking up debt only to find out that the real world operates in a slightly different manner. Now do not get me wrong, I am not discounting higher education one bit, as a matter of fact it is a precursor to this whole philosophy that I have going here. I mean a lot of the connections that you make throughout your college years are the same connections you are going to call on when it comes time to get a job, find a girlfriend/boyfriend or someone to go into business with you. It is naive (at least I think) to believe that you can get by completely based on what you know, but I am sure there are edge cases out there to prove my theory wrong.

Part of truly leveraging and maximizing the “who you know” philosophy is to remember never to burn bridges. This sounds a bit cliche, so let me explain what I mean by this. I am a firm believer in treating others as you want to be treated, so don’t act like a jerk to someone because you never know when the time may come that you are in need of something and they are on the receiving end of your request. Now if you treated them like you would have wanted to be treated, chances are they are going to help you out. If you did not, all bets are off any in most cases, they would be foolish to help you.

I am by no means advocating being nice to people simply because you have alterer motives, that is not right and you will be sniffed out as a fake sooner than later. Take the time to get to know people, invest something in the relationship, make it a give and take and make a genuine bond that will last. Then and only then will you know that when the time comes that you need their help they will give it, because you know that you would do the same if the roles were reversed.

Note:  Thanks to all that have helped me over the years and if I have not already, I hope to return the favor in the future.