The most important lesson that Pixsy CEO Chase Norlin has learned in his three trips on the startup wheel  is that "you have to be getting stuff done all the freakin' time."

Norlin, whose video-search firm is going toe-to-toe with rivals ranging from YouTube to Truveo, also says it's a good thing "that you're going to be getting beat up all the time."

One of the biggest challenges is surviving the peaks and valleys that come with the territory of startup CEO. 

"Sometimes, things seem so dire and bleak that you think, 'why am I doing this?'" he says. But many times, within 24 hours, "you feel like you're on top of the world." 

To see Norlin's Vator.tv pitch, click here.