What is the best way to prepare for starting your own company?

According to Kai-Fu Lee, the best preparation for entrepreneurship isn't immediately starting your own company after graduation. Instead, he strongly recommends joining a small startup (under 100 people) for at least two years. This experience allows you to learn multiple roles, understand business models, develop soft skills, and observe leadership firsthand. Unlike large corporations where employees often get pigeonholed into narrow roles, small companies provide comprehensive entrepreneurial training as you'll participate in various aspects of the business. Lee warns that 99% of people who start companies too early fail because they lack the necessary experience. By spending time in an existing startup, your likelihood of success dramatically increases when you eventually launch your own venture.