I already see a recurring theme in many of the best Convos: FAILURE.

The best entrepreneurs learn how to fail in a way that makes them, their products, and their companies stronger.

That's a skill, and it takes time to learn, because our nurtured tendencies are to steer away from things that have the possibility of failure.

Here are my favorite #FAIL Convos so far...

11 reasons why starting a company is hard.

A startup is an institution designed to create something in the face of uncertainty.

Most entrepreneurs don't start with perfected ideas of plans. They discover them.

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.

The best time to start a company is always two years ago. And the next best time is now.

Don't underestimate how long funding takes.

Do something so hard you become great in the process.

I've failed over and over and over again in my life, and that's why I succeed.

Success always starts with failure.

How to survive your first year as an entrepreneur.

Do founders learn more from success than failure?

Startup rule #1: SURVIVE.

And my personal favorite, How do I fail better?

"Most people are so worried about looking good that they never do anything great. Most people are so worried about doing something great that they never do anything at all." - Derek Sivers of CDBaby

That reminds me of the How to Become Great Convo.

The common themes are:

1) Be who you are, as hard as you can.

2) Fear less. Ideally, eliminate your fear.

It is something that startups have over the entrenched players. Even assuming they had motivation to, it is very hard for a Fortune 500 to make a large risky bet on a disruptive action. The cost of a division failing ripples through the whole organization. Layoffs, share prices, customers losing confidence in other products are all painful.

A startup can bet the farm on something risky, because even a complete failure just puts you back where you were a year ago but older and wiser.

Or to put it another way, startups have nothing, and hence have nothing to lose.

Your version is definitely shorter and catchier.

What does it take to be a winner? Embracing failure.

To be a winner, one must view obstacles as opportunities for growth. One must have a high level of intrinsic motivation, and constantly take steps towards their goals. One must be patient, as success does not happen over night. And last--but not least--one must have a sense of humor and know how to laugh when things don't go as planned. Therefore, the core characteristics of a winner are optimism, drive, patience, and humor.

Keep your eye on the ball,

Your head above the clouds,

Your ear to the ground,

Your shoulder to the wheel,

Your nose to the grindstone,

Your finger on the pulse,

Your feet on the ground, and

Your head on your shoulders.

Now... try to get something done. 

Source: http://ifindkarma.posterous.com/11-reasons-why-starting-a-company-is-hard

Convo: http://pandawhale.com/convo/137/11-reasons-why-starting-a-company-is-hard

I have two main stashes, Failure and Creation.

I wonder what that says about you, Greg. :)