Recruiting talent is no different than any other challenge a startup faces. It's all about selling.

During the dot-com days, one could take just about any company public and reap fortunes. All you had to do was to make sky-high projections for growth, say you were in the Internet space, and go along with unscrupulous investment bankers and their analysts.

Building a company isn't that different from climbing a big mountain. You need people helping you traverse treacherous paths and to lift you up when you fall.

Business executives need to start by spelling out and communicating their values. Then they need to lead by example. This means getting rid of the bad apples and declining opportunities that bring instant wealth at the cost of selling one's soul.

Innovation is all about people. Innovation thrives when the population is diverse, accepting and willing to cooperate.

The truth is that entrepreneurship is more like a roller coaster ride than a cruise.