No bullshit, no inspirational quotes. Just lessons from 23 years starting, running, and selling a company. Learn why inspiration doesn't matter, how to avoid terrifying your team, and the danger of success inflation.

1. LESSONS LEARNEDIN 23 YEARS AS AN ENTREPRENEUR
5IAN LURIE
CEO, PORTENT
@PORTENTINT

2. WHO IS THIS GUY?
@PORTENTINT
CEO, FOUNDER, PORTENT, INC.
WWW.PORTENT.COM

3. SINCE 1995

4. WHO IS THIS GUY?
@PORTENTINT
EVP, CLEARLINK
WWW.PORTENT.COM

5. MY LESSONS
TAKE ‘EM OR LEAVE ‘EM

6. IT’S WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING
BELIEVE IT
1

7. I SOLD MY
COMPANY
kids’ college
(a nice) retirement

9. NOPE

10. YEP

11. SUCCESS INFLATION
will kill you

12. LOVE IT
when you do the work

13. IT’S PERSONAL
don’t let anyone tell you different

14. BALANCE
2PRESENCE: PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL, PUBLIC

15. HUSTLE = BULLSHIT
work sustainably

16. YOUR FAMILY
must support what you’re doing

17. YOU STILL
have to clean the toilet now and then

18. TREAT YOURSELFyou deserve it

19. YOUR 1ST DUTY
is to remain standing

20. YOU’RE NOT SPECIAL
YOU’RE DISORGANIZED

21. FOUNDERS MUST
BUILD THE THING
it’s hard to run the business otherwise

22. CEOs MUST KNOW THE WORK
otherwise they make bad decisions

23. DON’T HIDE
it’s hard to grow that way

24. START WITH LEARNING
ask some questions

25. TRY SOME TEACHING
answer some questions

26. GROWTH
3MUST BE SUSTAINABLE

27. SELL THE COMPANY
is not a business plan

28. INSPIRATION = BULLSHIT
discipline wins every time

29. CASH FLOW
IS KING
you can’t breathe without air

30. BECOME A MASTER
TIME MANAGER
it’s your most precious resource

31. HIRE FOR INTELLIGENCE
NOT SKILLS
anything can be learned. if you can think.

32. HIRE FOR EQ
NOT POLISH
they can always wear a suit

33. WORK AT THE EDGES
DELEGATE THE MIDDLE
expertise leadershipexecution

34. BEWARE
10/30/50

35. TRUST
4IS A FINITE RESOURCE

36. BE TRUSTED
BEFORE LIKED
you can always buy them flowers

37. CLARITY
is everything

38. CLARITY IS NOT
A CHECKLIST
it’s a set of expectations

39. SET CLEAR
STANDARDS
‘be great’ doesn’t do it

40. SET CLEAR, MEASURABLE
GOALS
for yourself and others

41. CHANGE IS GOOD
until it’s not

42. OFFHAND REMARKS
get taken seriously

43. CRAZY ISN’T
MOTIVATIONAL
no one likes working for a nutjob

44. NICE IS NOT HELPFUL
it’s destructive

45. LEAD5EVEN WHEN YOU’RE NOT IN CHARGE

46. LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR
it’s distracting

47. WHEN YOUR GUT SPEAKS
LISTEN

48. LISTEN,
THEN DECIDE
please. pretty please.

49. REVEAL TO DISCOMFORT
it beats hiding

50. THINGS GO WRONG
when you fart in public, say excuse me

51. TEACH THE SH#T OUT OF
EVERYTHING

52. LEARN THE SH#T OUT OF
EVERYTHING

53. NEVER EVER EVER EVER
stop learning in public

54. STAY ARROGANT
enough to lead

55. STAY HUMBLE
enough to learn

56. MIND YOUR PARTNERS
and yourself

57. LOVE WHAT YOU DO
to your core, without question

58. DO IT WELL
and better every day

60. READ IT

61. READ IT

62. READ IT

63. READ IT

64. READ THEM

65. READ IT

66. THANK YOU
https://portent.co/5lessons
ian lurie
@portentint
ian@portent.com
www.portent.com