Lessons Learned: Wize.com's Tom Patterson

People, focus and watch the bottom line

The latest segment in our series about the entrepreneur's challenge comes from Tom Patterson, the CEO of Wize.com, the product research and ranking site. Patterson offers blunt advice to other startup executives: don't hire people who aren't ready to sacrifice their personal lives. Also, according to Patterson, a former entrepreneur-in-residence at the venture capital firm Mayfield Fund, companies should focus on doing one great thing each week, rather than three mediocre ones. And in advice on how to watch your burn rate, Patterson says startup employees don't need caramel sauce on their lattes or Frappucinos.

At Vator, we like to share lessons learned and advice about entrepreneurship straight from entrepreneurs or those who invest in them. Click on the names to find out what some members of the Vator community are saying about entrepreneurship. 

Tim Draper of Draper Fisher, Chris Larsen, founder of Prosper and eLoan, Trip Hawkins, founder of Digital Chocolate and Electronnic Arts, and Vivek Ranadive, founder of Tibco. 

If you have advice or lessons learned that you want to share, we invite you to upload a two-minute lesson onto your personal profile. Then ping us. We'd love to showcase in our news room.