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We announced some big @scale_AI news. The illusion with this sort of news is that it always looks like an overnight success.
I wanted to mention a few things I've learned along the way. I hope they'll be useful to other folks who are looking to build the future.
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I wanted to mention a few things I've learned along the way. I hope they'll be useful to other folks who are looking to build the future.
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While this is common advice, it is the most important.
Surround yourself with the BEST people. Not only people who are smart and ambitious—those who reinforce your best qualities and call you out on your worst.
This is true for teammates, customers, investors, and friends.
Surround yourself with the BEST people. Not only people who are smart and ambitious—those who reinforce your best qualities and call you out on your worst.
This is true for teammates, customers, investors, and friends.
As you scale, you will be confronted by one fork over and over: do I try to please everyone, or do I do what I think is right?
It is SO much more important to be authentic than it is to please everyone.
It is OK to be idiosyncratic sometimes.
Authenticity >>> anything else.
It is SO much more important to be authentic than it is to please everyone.
It is OK to be idiosyncratic sometimes.
Authenticity >>> anything else.
For most of the time building @scale_AI, tactics have been more important than strategy.
The tech community has a tendency to overweigh strategy because it is more narrative and easier to think about.
But, I've found that success often comes down to extreme tactical orientation
The tech community has a tendency to overweigh strategy because it is more narrative and easier to think about.
But, I've found that success often comes down to extreme tactical orientation
If you are a builder, adopt a mindset of short-term pessimism but long-term optimism.
You need to see the problems clear-eyed today, but it is oftentimes totally unexpected what is possible in the long-term if you remain focused.
I've found that optimism often shapes reality.
You need to see the problems clear-eyed today, but it is oftentimes totally unexpected what is possible in the long-term if you remain focused.
I've found that optimism often shapes reality.
Closing on simple advice, but so important:
Focus! There are strong non-linear benefits to extreme focus. Every great business was initially focused on something so narrow it didn't seem consequential.
Fight the temptation to be everything to everyone. It just doesn't work.
Focus! There are strong non-linear benefits to extreme focus. Every great business was initially focused on something so narrow it didn't seem consequential.
Fight the temptation to be everything to everyone. It just doesn't work.
Good luck! Building is really hard, but at the same time, having an impact shouldn't be easy :)
