Dexron is an automatic trans fluid type and can often help with shifting issue's.
(some people run pure ATF just for the reasons AJ mentioned about slipperyness)
One habit I always got in when taking off was to put the trans in second, and then into first.
This positively stops the gears before going into first, and can solve gear crunches going in.
It's such a habit that without thinking about it I do it with every stick shift I drive.
