This one quality is what separates people who build something truly extraordinary from those who build something that’s merely good

There’s a question I’ve been turning over for years, both as a founder and as an early-stage investor: What separates the people who build something truly extraordinary from those who build something merely good? I’ve had an unusual amount of pattern recognition to draw on. I’ve backed 18 companies that have crossed $100 million in revenue, watched five go public, and seen 10 get acquired, including my own. I’ve spent 500-plus hours in conversation with the world...