I think this applies not only to startup founders but also to early-stage engineering teams. We distilled this into our company's engineering values:
Real work is work that improves our product or makes our users happy. This includes writing code, helping others write code, and helping hire people that write code.
#fakework is work that seems like work, but is mostly just vanity. Examples of #fakework include thought leadership, migrating things to shinier new technologies, and going to conferences. #fakework can be fun (and fun is worthwhile, too), but it doesn't count towards anything here.
Real work is work that improves our product or makes our users happy. This includes writing code, helping others write code, and helping hire people that write code.
#fakework is work that seems like work, but is mostly just vanity. Examples of #fakework include thought leadership, migrating things to shinier new technologies, and going to conferences. #fakework can be fun (and fun is worthwhile, too), but it doesn't count towards anything here.