5 things I wish I knew before quitting my job to start a company. Hard-won, contrarian, and definitely not what you'll hear everywhere else.🧵

1. The loneliness isn't just being alone—it's losing the daily calibration of peers. You won't realize how much you relied on casual workplace feedback until it's gone. Find substitutes fast or you'll make costly decisions in a vacuum.

2. Your biggest liability is no longer your idea—it's you. Founders fail not because the market didn't want their product, but because they couldn't evolve fast enough. Be ready to outgrow yourself ruthlessly.

3. Don't romanticize the "all-nighter" grind. Consistency beats intensity. Show up every day at 9 AM with clear priorities rather than sporadic bursts of manic energy. Your team and customers will thank you.

4. Equity and titles mean nothing without momentum. People join companies that are winning, not ones with the best cap table. Focus obsessively on metrics that show genuine traction—everything else is noise.

5. The exit isn't the finish line. Building a company changes you permanently—for better and worse. Decide early what kind of founder you want to become, because the habits you form will outlast the business itself.