Great point how beyond the key roles of making money and hiring and firing a CEO basically has to take on the role that is most missing from the company at any point in time. If the company is heads down getting the product out the door, you're a product manager. If you are in the midst of a marketing launch, you are the VP of Marketing...
I believe that the #1 job as a CEO is to own the goals (the reasons for existence) of the company, doing whatever it takes to achieve the goals.
If that requires raising money or hiring/firing, those get prioritized high. Some startups don't require funding (just read a great post about GitHub), and others can be better staffed by a team of experienced mercenaries than a bunch of novice citizens.
And sometimes, the CEO has to be the cheerleader that prevents the founders from giving up...
Nicely put, I think Distraction is the #1 issue because of which CEO's fail in their day to day activities. Try to focus on one thing at a time and accomplish it, rather than juggling multiple items and not completing any.
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[ 2.6 ms ] story [ 20.7 ms ] threadthat'd be neat ;)
Another great post on the same topic:
http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2010/08/what-a-ceo-does.html
my 2 cents would be to add
Don't think this is true. #1 reason startups fail is the founders giving up.
-I keep hearing this and it makes zero sense. That is like saying the #1 reason why people die is because they stop breathing.
If that requires raising money or hiring/firing, those get prioritized high. Some startups don't require funding (just read a great post about GitHub), and others can be better staffed by a team of experienced mercenaries than a bunch of novice citizens.
And sometimes, the CEO has to be the cheerleader that prevents the founders from giving up...