Honestly, I don't have experience building from Zero. Opportunities I have gotten to work as a Community manager or moderator have always been in 'Inherited' position. I find it refreshing that I have practiced most of the tips in this reflection on how to go about an inherited community
In my last job as a CM, I inherited a disgruntled community where the Founder messed up by overpromising and under-delivering. I guess he was looking for someone to take the heat for his mess. Well, I was up for since I get to earn something to be his shield. I utilized the first 36 hours to go through weeks of chats and announcements to better understand what I'm to do to 'quench the fire'.
Issue was on contest (zealy) payment. I obviously distanced myself from it, while also offering assurances of fairness on future events/contest. Result was good. I also focused more attention on loyalists to rebuild trust again from the ground up.
For me, this material's core lesson is to be versatile and flexible to the kind of community a Cm finds himself. What works for one, might not work for the other. just have to pay attention