Starting a new venture is like jumping off a cliff and sewing a parachute on the way down. This book is the parachute. Joe Gebbia, cofounder and chief product officer, Airbnb How do you make your start-up a genuine success in the long term? While most books and press focus on the more sensational moments of creation and conclusion, The Messy Middle argues that the real key to success is how you navigate the ups-and-downs after initial investment is secured. It will give you all the insights you need to build and optimize your team, improve your product and develop your own capacity to lead covering: * Coping with uncertainty and conflict * Playing the long game * Optimising your team * Problem solving through the ups and downs * Adapting your strategy * When to quit Building on seven years' of meticulous research with entrepreneurs, small agencies, start-ups and billion-dollar companies, Scott Belsky offers indispensable lessons on how to endure and thrive in the long term.