El 4: Twitter Co-Founder Dorsey Offers List of Dos and Don'ts for Success

As the co-founder of Twitter and Square, two of the most high profile tech companies in Silicon Valley, Jack Dorsey can claim at least some sage wisdom in the way of building successful companies.

That's why a recent meeting in which the tech innovator delivered a few choice pieces of advice has drawn the attention of would-be tech moguls, as well as those with vested interests in his companies.

These latest comments come just weeks after the release of Hatching Twitter, a book that dented Dorsey's reputation in some respects.

The comments were made during Y Combinator's Startup School event on Saturday in Cupertino, California. No stranger to making bold pronouncements regarding how to approach business and life, Dorsey laid out a check list of Dos and Don'ts to the assembled audience.

According to Techcrunch, the list included the following Dos:

Stay present
Be vulnerable
Drink only lemon water and red wine
Six sets of 20 squats and push-ups every day
Run for 3 miles
Meditate on this list
Stand up straight
Spend 10 minutes with a heavy bag
Say hello to everyone
Get 7 hours of sleep

Those were followed by a shorter set of Don'ts:

Don't avoid eye contact
Don't be late
Don't set expectations that you can't meet
Don't eat sugar
Don't drink hard liquor or beer during the weekday

Some parts of Dorsey's list suggest an extremely ascetic lifestyle, while other parts of the list read as simple common sense.

Nevertheless, the common thread among all the items on Dorsey's Dos and Don'ts list appears to be the practice of consistency, a habit that has earned Dorsey a seat at the table of two of tech's most interesting brands, no matter what his critics may say.

BONUS: 10 Must-Have Tools for Entrepreneurs

1. Behance Action Runner

Good design breeds great productivity, say the creatives at Behance, who developed The Action Method. That's what sets this pad apart from a regular yellow legal notebook. The visual design reminds you to describe ideas in action steps rather than just jotting them down, in line with Behance's philosophy of "Making Ideas Happen."
2. Evernote

Each device has a different form factor, and maintaining consistency takes the stress out of to-do lists and project management. Evernote is a clear winner. You can use it on your desktop or through a smartphone app -- but if you're on a shared computer, you can also sign in through a web browser.

The company has allowed the app to integrate with other tools through IFTTT, further reducing friction.
3. Google Docs

The built-in chat and real-time editing make Google Docs awesome for collaboration. Even if you're working on your own, it's great to have your documents stored in the cloud and accessible on any web-enabled device. Auto-save ensures that the most recently updated version of a document is always available.

Text docs are most popular, but don't forget that you can create a form and embed it on any site -- which is wonderful for getting feedback from users. The spreadsheet doc is great for a simple budget or keeping track of employee's contact information.
4. Dropbox

If getting a million emails asking for a high-res version of the company logo drives you crazy, Dropbox is the answer. Files can get lost in inboxes or just be too large to send via email; Dropbox is a perfect solution to keep track of various product design iterations and assets.

Dropbox for Teams allows you to give each member different permissions to collaborate effectively. You can even share large files with partners or the press even if they don't have Dropbox. Check out Dropbox's nifty calculator to see if Dropbox for Teams is a fit for you.
5. MailChimp

Despite the fancy social networks we see released each day, email is still one of the best ways to connect with customers. The sooner you begin collecting email addresses, the better -- and MailChimp's subscription forms are the way to do it.

MailChimp doesn't begin charging til after you hit 2,000 subscribers. Even if you're not sending out regular newsletters, it's helpful to build your list for when it is time for email outreach. Analytics on campaigns will tell you who opened your email, what they clicked on and more -- it's great feedback into how well you're communicating your product message.
7. Uber

Uber is neither app nor traditional service, but blends the two. It's a car service with the kind of customer care that wouldn't be possible without mobile phones and GPS technology. It attracts high-end customers with sleek cars and is branded as a private driver rather than a cab service.

But, the convenience is what draws most people in. No money is exchanged with drivers because payments (and tip!) are taken care of on Uber's end. Pricing varies with time and distance, and once you've dropped a pin to request a car, phone notifications let you know how close your driver is. So even if you're standing in the rain, you don't feel totally left out in the cold.
8. iPad

Of all gadgets, the iPad is probably the most ubiquitous. It sort of works as a laptop replacement (but not if you do a lot of coding or design) and is also great for reading blogs or watching videos. Best of all, it's slim, which makes it a great companion for travel or conference-going.

Depending on your use case, there are plenty of accessories, like keyboards or a stylus, that make the iPad work better for you. Not to mention, most entrepreneurs make a habit of staying on top of the latest tech product releases -- and many these days are first released as an iPad app, so it helps to be able to experience these products first-hand.
9. PSP

When you're hopping on and off planes and trains to meet with venture capital firms, you have to travel light. Luckily, a PSP can go everywhere with you. It's great for both business trips and just taking a break. Because sometimes you need to escape for a little bit to rejuvenate your thought process.
10. IdeaPaint

IdeaPaint is trendy, and for good reason. It turns any surface into a white board. Depending on the size wall you decide to transform, you get quite a bit of space to draw or mock up ideas. Not surprisingly, this makes the process more collaborative. Plus, IdeaPaint is cost-effective, compared to purchasing whiteboards for the office or home.

The company recently launched a transparent version, which means you can make a dry erase wall without compromising on colors.