I always invest my own money in the companies that I create. I don't believe in the whole thing of just using other people's money. I don't think that's right. I'm not going to ask other people to invest in something if I'm not prepared to do so myself.

Skin in the game changes everything

There's something almost old-fashioned about the idea of putting your own money where your mouth is. We live in an age where founders can pitch a vague idea to investors and walk away rich, where other people's capital does most of the heavy lifting. But this quote points to a basic truth that doesn't require a billion-dollar net worth to understand: you make different choices when your own resources are on the line.

When you're spending someone else's money, there's a subtle shift in accountability. You can take bigger risks, justify bigger budgets, move faster without feeling the full weight of failure. But when it's your own nest egg? You think differently. You cut waste you wouldn't normally notice. You ask harder questions before signing off on expensive decisions. There's a clarity that comes from personal stake.

This matters beyond the startup world. Whether you're recommending something to a friend, pushing a change at work, or making a family decision, there's real weight in being willing to do it yourself first. It's not about being wealthy or having skin in the game financially every time—it's about not asking others to take risks you wouldn't take yourself. That's the kind of integrity that builds trust, and it's remarkably rare.