This chapter explores the fact that creating and building a business is not a one-man show, even when it springs from the mind and determination of a single technical entrepreneur. Turning a technical idea or technology into a business success requires many people to work together effectively, and this requires leadership, team building, communication, and continuous motivation.

Leadership is not a skill anyone is born with, but it can be learned and honed from mentoring, experience, and failures. Startups also require many different leadership skills, from technical to financial, so a technical entrepreneur needs to understand how to build the right team, be a role model, and work with all kinds of people.

In business as in life, the smartest people are the ones who know they don't know it all. However, smart people learn quickly. Not far down the road, you will be ready to mentor entrepreneurs who are where you were only...