As I read your essay, i thought of an interesting analogy: biological life. IN the fundamental early years of higher organisms, they need the appropriate nutrients and encvironment to build a sound foundation (body) with which to live the rest of their lives. If that body is warped or imparied, say through nutritional deficiencies, their lives will be limited. thus it is with startups and you Free electorns and first fundametal employees: they build the skeletal frame on whcih the muscles and sinews of the company will grow. Get is wrong and it will never run a race at Olympic speeds--its just isn't in its capability. Maybe genes and DNA your ideas and your first employees are really like RNA?