While thoughtful, listening founders typically outperform arrogant ones, some level of 'bullheadedness' is essential for survival. Entrepreneurship requires a blend of stubborn persistence to even start and the humility to listen and adapt along the way to scale successfully.
A common trait among great founders is their ability to listen and engage on any topic, even in areas where they are the expert. They absorb outside perspectives from everyone, including those less skilled, and incorporate that feedback to arrive at better solutions.
Manish Chandra, founder of Poshmark, had such a clear and unwavering vision that the company's seed pitch deck was functionally identical to its presentation at IPO and exit. This highlights the power of a deeply rooted, consistent vision in navigating a startup's entire lifecycle.