Mark Cuban's 12 Rules for Startups to Build for Success!
- Jasaro.in
- Sep 2
- 5 min read
When you think of entrepreneurs who’ve turned grit and hustle into a billion-dollar success, shark tank Mark Cuban’s name has to be at the top of the list. From selling powdered milk door-to-door to becoming a self-made shark tank billionaire, Mark Cuban’s journey embodies the raw lessons every founder/entrepreneur must learn from and emulate.
If you’re starting a business today, you’ll face endless advice: quickly raise VC money, chase growth at all costs, or build the “next big unicorn.” Except, Mark Cuban’s philosophy cuts through the noise, as he believes "startups should be lean, passionate, sales-driven (focused on sales), and fun."
Mark Cuban’s 12 Rules for Startups.
Here are Mark Cuban’s 12 rules for startups to enable founders like you to build a startup that doesn’t just survive the early grind, but thrives for the long run.
1. Obsession Over Everything.
The best startups aren’t built on trends, they’re built on obsession. Mark emphasizes that if you don’t love what you’re building, you’ll eventually give up when challenges pile up. Ask yourself: Would I do this even if I weren’t paid? Obsession creates resilience, and resilience keeps founders in the game long after others quit. If you aren't passionate about this startup/idea day in and day out, it’s probably not the right one.
2. No Exit Mentality.
If you’re already planning your exit strategy, you’re in the wrong game. Mark argues that true founders don’t think about selling, they think about scaling. Focus on building a startup you want to run for decades, not just a few years. Acquisitions and IPOs are by-products of great businesses, not the goal. Investors and employees can tell when you’re committed for the long haul. That commitment is magnetic.
3. Hire for Passion.
Skills can be taught. Passion cannot. Mark insists that startups should hire people who are excited about the mission, not just the paycheck. A passionate team will push through late nights and setbacks. Culture rooted in passion creates energy, loyalty, and innovation. If you’re building a rocket ship, you want crew members who want to go to Mars, not just collect air miles.
4. Sales comes First, Always.
“Sales cure all,” Mark says. Without revenue, your startup is just a hobby. Before building complex features, ask: Will this help us sell more? A startup lives or dies by its ability to generate cash flow. Many founders obsess over fundraising, but Mark’s mantra is simple: sales > funding. When you can sell, you control your destiny.
5. Master Your Strengths.
Great founders know their edge, and double down on it. Mark advises against spreading yourself too thin or chasing every shiny opportunity. Identify what you or your startup does better than anyone else. Focus relentlessly on that advantage until it compounds. Startups that dilute themselves lose momentum. Startups that specialize win markets.
6. Lunch is Strategy Time.
For Mark, even lunch is work. Not because founders should never relax, but because strategy lives in conversations. Use lunch to build relationships with investors, partners, and mentors. Think of meals as extensions of your startup’s growth, not as distractions. Networking isn’t just events and LinkedIn. Sometimes the best deals happen over tacos.
7. Radical Transparency.
Mark believes startups should be run with brutal honesty and zero politics. Be upfront about challenges. Encourage direct feedback, even when it stings. Build trust by eliminating hidden agendas.
In small teams, secrets kill culture. Transparency builds loyalty and speed.
8. Tech You Know.
Don’t get seduced by the “next big tech” if you don’t understand it. Mark advises founders to stick with tools and technologies they know well. Mastery beats novelty. Chasing trends often leads to wasted time and money. This doesn’t mean ignoring innovation, but it does mean avoiding buzzword-driven pivots.
9. Flat is Lean and Fast.
Hierarchy slows startups down. Mark advocates for flat organizations where ideas and execution move quickly. Avoid layers of middle management early on. Keep decision-making simple and agile. Speed is a startup’s greatest weapon. The fewer bottlenecks you have, the faster you adapt.
10. No Swag, No Waste.
In Mark’s world, there’s no room for vanity spending. Forget branded t-shirts, fancy offices, or unnecessary perks in the early days. Every dollar should fuel growth. Waste signals weakness, to employees, investors, and competitors. Startups that treat money like oxygen survive. Startups that burn cash for appearances suffocate.
11. DIY Your Message.
Mark warns against outsourcing your voice. Founders should own their story instead of hiring PR firms. Nobody knows your mission better than you. Authentic founder-led messaging builds trust with customers and press. Crafting your own narrative makes you relatable, human, and credible.
12. Make It Fun.
Finally, Mark insists that work should be enjoyable, not just a grind. A fun culture attracts great people. Passion and playfulness spark creativity. Burnout kills startups faster than competition. If you’re miserable building your startup, why should anyone else believe in it?
FAQs: Mark Cuban’s Best Startup Advices.
1. What is Mark Cuban’s number one rule for startups?
Its “Sales Cure All” - Without revenue, a startup can’t survive. Mark believes that sales should be the primary focus before fundraising or scaling.
2. Why does Mark Cuban say obsession is important?
Mark argues that obsession creates resilience. If you’re not deeply in love with your startup, you’ll quit when the challenges arise. Mark claims that "Obsession keeps founders pushing through adversity."
3. How does Mark Cuban recommend hiring for startups?
Mark emphasizes hiring for passion over skills. Skills can be taught, but genuine enthusiasm for the mission fuels loyalty, creativity, and long-term commitment.
4. Should startups spend money on swag or fancy offices?
Mark was deadly against it. He believes early-stage startups should avoid wasteful spending and focus every dollar on growth, sales, and survival.
5. What does Mark Cuban think about if founders should plan for an exit?
Mark advises against the “exit mentality.” He believes great businesses are built for the long haul, and acquisitions or IPOs are natural outcomes, not goals.
Conclusion: How to Build Like Mark Cuban?
Mark Cuban’s 12 rules aren’t just a checklist, they’re a mindset.
Sales Keep You Alive.
Obsession Fuels Resilience.
Passion Drives Teams.
Simplicity Creates Speed.
Fun Sustains the Journey.
In a world where startups often chase funding rounds and hype cycles, Mark Cuban’s advice is refreshingly simple: Build a business you love, focus on revenue, and keep it lean and real (forget hype). If you want your startup to last, just don’t think about the exit. Think about the impact you’ll create when you’re obsessed enough to stick around.
Found this article insightful; please help others to discover it by liking, sharing, and commenting below.
Comments