The startup skill set

This reminds of an excellent read about "What makes entrepreneurs entrepreneurial". You can find the full pdf on Vinod Khosla's site (<a href="http://www.khoslaventures.com/presentations/What_makes_entrepreneurs_entrepreneurial.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.khoslaventures.com/presentations/What_makes_entre...</a>).<p>In addition to the skills listed in the article it's important for a founder to be flexible and open-minded. Being infatuated with an idea, direction, or vision may not allow you to see opportunities where they exist (recently PG talked about this in Shlep Blindness: <a href="http://www.paulgraham.com/schlep.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.paulgraham.com/schlep.html</a>). Perceptions, ideas, and markets change and one needs to change and adapt with them if it's fitting.

Skills are highly overrated I think, it needs persistence above all to succeed with your startup. E.g. when I read this <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/22/post-mortem-for-plancast/" rel="nofollow">http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/22/post-mortem-for-plancast/</a> my first thought was: he gives up too fast (very interesting comment by Scoble also). I don't say you don't need skills at all, but if you never give up you will pick up the skills along the way.

Sales == Huge. I've known guys to clear 250k because they could bring in millions in revenue single-handedly.<p>I wouldn't classify "making things" as nearly important; The founder that can sell can also "sell" someone on making it for him... But, having a good sense of design would be incredibly useful.

Speaking from experience, I think you skipped what I believe is the primary and most important skill.<p>The willingness to take risk on that your idea. Passion comes a close second. I believe there is a correlation between passion and the willingness to take the required risk to fulfill that passion.<p>==<p>As an aside, I can only imagine how awesome the event would have been. I attended the first Lean Camp with DHH. Startup events are one of the things I really miss in the UK.