Being a startup founder and CEO is difficult. CEOs of large corporations are oftentimes groomed over the course of years for the position. There is no playbook for startup founders. Most first-time founders are learning on the fly and are responsible for making just about every decision for their company. As a startup founder, there is no one better to learn from than the person that has been there before. Luckily, there are thousands of founders, investors, and operators that have been there before to share their learnings.

As Seth Godin puts it, "It's unlikely that you're going to outsmart the experienced folks who have seen it all before... When you have to walk into one of these events, it pays to hire a local guide. Someone who knows as much as the other folks do, but who works for you instead."

Learning from the founder, investor, or operator that has been there before can be transformational for a startup founder.