AbookbyPr

oduc
tHunt

HowtoBui
lda
Car
eeri
nT
Thebes
ec
tadv
i
h
cef
rom f
ounder
s,i
nves
tor
s,andwor
ld-
changi
ngl
eader
s.
Pr
oduc
tHunt
:
TheUl
ti
mat
eCar
eerGui
de

TABLE OFCONTENTS
2 Ac
knowl
edgement
s
3 I
ntr
oduc
tion
5 WhatShoul
dYouDoWi
thY
ourLi
fe?
1
0 TheBes
tandWor
stCar
eerAdv
iceI
'
veEv
erRec
eiv
ed
21 Educ
ati
on(
orL
ackTher
eof
)
25 ForSt
udent
sandGr
aduat
es
28 St
art
upsv
s.Bi
gCompani
es
35 TheAr
tofNet
wor
king
38 Fi
ndi
ngGr
eatMent
ors
42 OnGet
ti
ngHi
red
46 OnHi
ri
ng
50 Changi
ngCar
eerPat
hs
54 Howt
oBec
omeSuc
ces
sful
58 WomenandI
ncl
usi
on
64 Bec
omi
nganEnt
repr
eneur
72 Ex
plor
ingDi
er
entRol
esandI
ndus
tri
es
74 I
nves
ti
ng
77 Engi
neer
ing
79 Pr
oduc
tManagement
81 Medi
a,Ar
t,andEnt
ert
ainment
86 Ov
erc
omi
ngCar
eerChal
l
enges
92 WhatAdv
iceWoul
dYouGi
veY
ourY
oungerSel
f?
98 ACommuni
tyChatwi
thT
onyRobbi
ns

1
Ac
knowl
edgement
s

Thi
sbookc
oul
dnothav
ebeenpos
sibl
ewi
thoutt
hePr
oduc
tHuntc
ommuni
ty
.Thegues
tsf
eat
uredi
nthi
sbook
hav
epr
ais
edy
ouri
nsi
ght
ful
ques
ti
onsandpas
sionf
ort
het
echnol
ogyi
ndus
tryr
epeat
edl
y.

As
pec
ial
thankst
okeyc
ont
ri
but
orsont
hePr
oduc
tHuntt
eam:
Mel
i
ssaJ
oyKongf
orherwr
it
ingandedi
ti
ng
wor
k,Ni
vDr
orf
orhi
spr
ojec
tmanagementandedi
ti
ngs
uppor
t,andSet
hWi
l
li
amsf
orhi
sdes
ignwor
k.

I
naddi
ti
on,
we
dli
ket
ohi
ghl
i
ghtt
hec
ont
ri
but
ionsofaf
ewi
ndi
vi
dual
swho,
overt
hel
astf
ewmont
hs,
hel
pedus
got
hroughhundr
edsofPr
oduc
tHuntLI
VEChat
s,t
aki
ngnot
esandgat
her
ingkeyi
nsi
ght
s.Ther
eisal
otmor
eto
c
omef
rom t
hei
rcont
ri
but
ions
,thi
sisj
ustt
hebegi
nni
ng.

Thanky
out
othi
sgr
oupf
ort
hei
rti
meandv
aluabl
einput
.Theyar
ethemaker
soft
hispr
ojec
tal
ongwi
tht
he
Pr
oduc
tHuntt
eam.

Al
exMar
shal
l(
@gr
lal
x)
Al
exSmel
i
ans
ka(
@al
eks
_mus
e)
Edwi
nWee(
@edwi
nwee)
Hy
derAl
abed(
@hy
der
alabed)
J
asonCr
abt
ree(
@jas
ont
crabt
ree)
J
ohnEgan(
@john_m_egan)
J
uli
anPhi
l
li
p(@j
l
nphl
l
p)
Kr
ist
iyanI
vanov(
@k_i
vanow)
Pav
anSet
hi(
@pav
_set
hi)
RaRubi
n(@r
ar
ubi
n)
Sebas
ti
anAl
var
ez(
@sap_uy
)
SnehaGupt
a(@Sneha_ub)

Thr
eemember
soft
hisgr
ouphav
egoneabov
eandbey
ondwhatwasex
pec
ted,
anddes
erv
espec
ial
rec
ogni
-
t
ion.
Aspec
ial
thanky
out
oPav
an,
Jas
on,
andHy
derf
orc
ons
tantf
eedbac
kandeor
tyou
veputi
ntot
his
.

2
I
ntr
oduc
tion

Whatam I
suppos
edt
odowi
thmyl
i
fe?
HowdoI
ndmypur
pos
e?
I
sgoi
ngt
ocol
l
egeorget
ti
ngapos
t-gr
aduat
edegr
eewor
thi
t?
HowdoI
ndagr
eatj
obwhenI
don
thav
eex
per
ienc
eyet
?
DoI
hav
ewhati
ttakest
ost
artac
ompany
?
WhatdoI
doi
fIwantt
ochangec
areer
s,butdon
tknowhow?
HowdoI
payt
hebi
l
lsandpur
suemypas
sionsatt
hes
amet
ime
m?

Thes
ear
esomeoft
hebi
gques
ti
onsweas
kour
sel
veswhenc
arv
ingourc
areerpat
hswhet
herwe
res
ti
ll
inc
ol-
l
egeandwantt
obr
eaki
ntoani
ndus
try
,orwewantt
oswi
tchc
areer
saf
terbei
ngi
nthewor
kfor
ce.

I
t
shar
dtondt
her
ightadv
icebec
aus
eev
ery
one
scar
eerpat
hiss
odi
er
ent
.Someofuswi
l
lchoos
etobui
l
d
ourc
areer
satl
argec
ompani
es;
other
swi
l
lst
artt
hei
rownc
ompani
esr
ightoutofs
chool
.Someofuswi
l
lpur
sue
hi
ghereduc
ati
on;
other
swi
l
ldr
opoutofhi
ghs
chool
orc
oll
egeear
ly
.Someofuswi
l
lknowwhatwewantt
odo
r
ightaway
;andf
ormos
tofus
,ac
areerpat
hwi
l
llookdi
rec
tionl
essf
orawhi
l
e,wi
thmanyt
wis
tsandt
urnsal
ong
t
heway
.

AtPr
oduc
tHunt
,we
rebi
gbel
i
ever
sinl
ear
ningf
rom t
hes
ucc
ess
es,
fai
l
ures
,ands
tor
iesofot
her
s.Wheni
t
c
omest
oat
opi
casc
ompl
exandi
mpac
tful
asc
hoos
ingorc
hangi
ngac
areer
,st
andi
ngont
hes
houl
der
sof
gi
ant
sispar
ti
cul
arl
yimpor
tant
.Thi
sbooki
smeantt
oser
veasar
esour
ceofi
nspi
rat
ionandknowl
edgef
rom
l
eader
sint
ech.

Ov
ert
hepas
tfewy
ear
s,we
vei
nter
viewedhundr
edsoft
hebes
tent
repr
eneur
s,c
reat
ives
,andt
houghtl
eader
s
ar
oundt
hewor
ld.
Wes
if
tedt
hrought
hous
andsoft
hought
ful
ques
ti
onsandans
wer
s,wi
tht
hePr
oduc
tHuntc
om-
muni
ty'
shel
p,t
oputt
oget
hert
heul
ti
mat
egui
det
ohel
pyounav
igat
eyourc
areer
whet
hery
ou
ref
res
houtof
s
chool
,l
ooki
ngt
omakeac
areers
hif
t,bui
l
dinganet
wor
kinanewc
ity
,wor
kingonas
idehus
tl
e,orc
reat
inga
c
ompanyf
rom t
hegr
oundup.
Int
hisbook,
you
l
lndwi
sdom f
rom doz
ensofpeopl
eabout
:

Howt
ochoos
eyourc
areerpat
hwhens
tar
ti
ngout
Howt
obr
eaki
ntoanewi
ndus
try
Ov
erc
omi
ngpr
ofes
sional
fear
sandc
hal
l
enges
Choos
ingt
her
ighteduc
ati
onex
per
ienc
efory
our
sel
f
Howt
obec
omeas
ucc
ess
ful
ent
repr
eneur
Bec
omi
ngagr
eatl
eaderandbui
l
dingas
tel
l
art
eam
Thebes
t(andwor
st)c
areeradv
iceev
err
ecei
ved

.
.
.ands
omuc
hmor
efr
om ent
repr
eneur
s,c
elebr
it
ies
,inv
est
ors
,andt
houghtl
eader
ssuc
has
:

Ai
leenLee,
FounderofCowboyVent
ures
BenHor
owi
tz,
Co-
founderofAndr
ees
senHor
owi
tz
Br
adFel
d,Managi
ngDi
rec
torofFoundr
yGr
oup,
Aut
horofVent
ureDeal
s

3
 Chel
saCr
owl
ey,
Co-
founderofSt
owawayCos
met
ics
Car
lyZaki
n,Co-
founderoft
heSki
mm
Denni
sCr
owl
ey,
Co-
founderofFour
squar
e
Der
ayMc
Kes
son,
Civ
ilRi
ght
sAc
tiv
ist
,Hos
tofPodSav
ethePeopl
e
Dus
tinMos
kovi
tz,
Co-
founderofAs
anaandFac
ebook
Gar
yVayner
chuk,
CEOofVay
ner
Medi
aandFut
ureOwneroft
heNYJ
ets
J
ackDor
sey,
Co-
founderofTwi
tt
erandSquar
e
J
eAt
wood,
Co-
founderofSt
ackEx
changeandDi
scour
se
J
ess
icaLes
sin,
FounderandEdi
tor
-i
n-Chi
efofTheI
nfor
mat
ion
J
ohnLi
ll
y,Par
tneratGr
eyl
ock,
for
merCEOatMoz
il
la
J
uli
eZhuo,
Produc
tDes
ignDi
rec
toratFac
ebook
Kar
aSwi
sher
,Co-
founderandEx
ecut
iveEdi
torofRec
ode
Kat
hrynMi
nshew,
FounderofTheMus
e
Mat
tMul
lenweg,
Co-
founderofWor
dPr
ess
Mol
lyGr
aham,
VPofOper
ati
onsatt
heChanZuc
ker
ber
gIni
ti
ati
ve
NavalRavi
kant
,Co-
founderofAngel
Li
st
Rober
tGr
eene,
Aut
horofThe48L
awsofPowerandMas
ter
y
Sus
anCai
n,Aut
horofQui
et,
TEDSpeaker
Ti
m Fer
ri
ss,
Aut
horofThe4-
HourWor
kweekandT
ool
sofTi
tans
Tr
oyCar
ter
,Inv
est
or,
Global
HeadofCr
eat
orSer
vic
esatSpot
if
y

Thisbooki
satr
easuret
roveofhard-
earnedwi
sdom andhones
tadv
ice.
Wehopey
oundt
hec
areergui
danc
e
your
esear
chi
ngforasyoubrowsethr
oughthes
epages .

4
 CHAPTER 1

WhatShould
YouDoWi th
YourLi
fe?
Atsomepoint
,justaboutallofusaskthisquest
ion:WhatshouldIdowit
hmyl i
fe?
Manyofthemos tsucces
s f
ulpeopleyouc anthi
nkofas kedt
hems el
vesthever
y
samethi
ngandt heynowhav egreatadvic
eont hetopicaf
terhavi
ngcarvedt
heir
ownuniquepat
ht owher etheyaretoday.
5
Phot
obyHol
l
isJ
ohns
on,
Bus
ines
sIns
ider

Fi
ndt
het
hingyou
remos
tpas
sionat
eabout
:
I
ndwedoourbes
twor
kwheni
t'
ssomet
hingwe'
reper
sonal
l
ypas
sionat
eabout
.
So,
I'
dsayt
ofol
l
owt
hatandy
ou'
l
lndy
ourf
ocus
.

KEVI
N ROSE
I
nvest
or,Co-
founderofDi
gg

6
Don
tbeaf
rai
dtoc
los
eonec
hapt
erands
tar
tanot
her
:
I
thi
nkweputal
otofpr
ess
ureonour
sel
vest
ohav
eev
erynex
toppor
tuni
tybeobj
ect
ivel
ybet
ter
thant
he
nex
t,whet
heri
t'
stoi
mpr
essourf
ri
ends
,fami
l
yorour
sel
ves
.Ins
tead,
I'
ves
tar
tedt
hinki
ng,
WhatdoI
wantt
o
wor
konf
ort
henex
t5y
ear
s?Af
terVC[
atCol
l
abor
ati
veFund]
,It
houghtaboutwhi
chpr
ojec
tIwant
edt
o
wor
konnex
t,l
i
keanar
ti
stwoul
d.Thi
nki
ngofi
tasapr
ojec
tandnota
car
eermov
et
ookal
otoft
hepr
es-
s
ureoandf
orc
edmet
ofoc
usonwhatI
wasac
tual
l
ypas
sionat
eabout
.Pr
ojec
tshav
eabegi
nni
ngandan
end,
andt
heydon'
teac
hhav
etobet
iedt
oeac
hot
her
.Il
ovewhatI
'
m doi
ngr
ightnow,
butwhenI
'
ves
aid
whatI
want
edt
osayher
e[atGi
tHub]
,I
'l
lcl
oset
hisc
hapt
erands
tar
tanot
her
.

NADI
AEGHBAL
Communi
tyPr
ogr
amsatGi
tHub

Ear
lyoni
nyourc
areer
,exper
imentandt
rydi
er
entt
hings
:
Ther
eisadi
er
enc
ebet
weens
omeonewhoi
sal
way
sdi
ssat
is
edandl
ooki
ngf
oranex
cus
etoc
hangec
a-
r
eer
sjus
tbec
aus
eyouar
eper
pet
ual
l
ybor
ed,
ands
omeonewhoi
sinabadt
.It

ssomet
hingy
ous
houl
d
f
eel
iny
ourgut
.Your
sthav
etodec
idei
fyourwander
lus
tisr
eal
bef
orey
ouc
angur
eoutwhatex
act
lyy
ou
s
houl
dbedoi
ng.
Unt
ily
ou
ret
hir
tyI
woul
dex
per
imental
i
ttl
eandt
rydi
er
entt
hings
.

ROBERTGREENE
Aut
horofThe48LawsofPowerandMas
ter
y

Proj
ect
shav
eabegi
nni
ngandanend,
andt
heydon'
t
eac
hhav
etobet
iedt
oeac
hot
her
.

NADI
AEGHBAL

Fol
lowyouri
ntel
lec
tualc
uri
osi
ti
es:
Fol
l
owi
ngy
ourgenui
nei
ntel
l
ect
ual
cur
ios
it
yisabet
terf
oundat
ionf
orac
areert
hanf
oll
owi
ngwhat
everi
s
maki
ngmoneyr
ightnow.

NAVALRAVI
KANT
Co-
founderofAngel
Lis
t

7
Dos
omet
hingnewwhi
leyou
reyoung:
Goabr
oadwheny
ouar
eyoung.
Inc
oll
egei
twasal
way
stheoddc
las
sI
sl
ami
cLaw,
forex
ampl
e,wasone
ofmyf
avor
it
est
hatI
took
thatwas
n'tr
eal
l
ypar
tofmymaj
or,
butt
aughtmet
hemos
t.Y
oual
way
shav
eti
me
t
ogodeepands
pec
ial
i
zel
ater
.I
nfac
t,y
ourc
areerwi
l
lli
kel
ydemandi
t.Soi
fyouar
est
il
lyoung,
godo
s
omet
hingnew.
Thewor
stt
hingt
hatwi
l
lhappeni
sthaty
ouhat
eitanddon'
tdoi
tagai
n.I
thi
nkt
hatmos
t
peopl
ear
eaf
rai
dthatot
herpeopl
ewi
l
ljudget
hem f
ort
ryi
ngnewt
hings
.But
,mos
tpeopl
edon'
tcar
eabout
y
ou,
andt
her
esf
reedom i
nthat
.Wedon'
treal
l
ymat
tert
othatmanypeopl
e,s
owec
anoper
atewi
thi
mpuni
-
t
y.Goabr
oadandf
ail
big.
Thenwheny
ouhav
eamor
tgage,
youc
ant
ell
int
eres
ti
ngs
tor
iest
oyourbor
ing
f
ri
ends
.That
'
smypl
an,
atl
eas
t.

ALEXWI
LHELM
Edi
tori
nChi
efatCr
unchbas
e

Phot
ocour
tes
yofJ
akePaul

Choos
ewher
eyouwantt
ochannelyourener
gyandeor
t:
Thebes
tthi
ngyoucandoi
sndoutwhatyouwantt
odo.Youar
emos
tli
kel
yal
readydoi
ngi
t;youj
ust
ar
en'
tthi
nki
ngofi
tasabus
ines
s.Doyouhaveahobby
?Ifs
o,l
ear
nmor
eabouthowt
obui
l
dabus
ines
s
ar
oundi
t.Thi
sisex
tremel
yimpor
tantbecaus
eyoual
readyl
ovedoi
ngi
t,youknowal
otabouti
t,andt
hat

s
whenyoucanchanget
hewor
ld.

J
AKEPAUL
YouTuber
,Act
or
8
Thi
nkaboutwhatyouwer
eint
eres
tedi
nfr
om ayoungage:
Ther
e'snev
ert
hat
onet
hingt
haty
ouar
esuppos
edt
obedoi
ng.
Don'
tfor
get
:theav
eragemul
ti
-mi
l
li
onai
re
(
andt
hisi
sfr
om t
axdat
a)hass
evendi
er
ents
our
cesofi
ncome,
atl
eas
t.Butones
tar
tist
othi
nkaboutal
lof
t
het
hingsy
ouwer
eint
eres
tedi
nfr
om t
heagesof6-
18.
Howdot
hos
eint
eres
tst
rans
lat
eint
othemoder
n
dayt
oday
?Ify
oul
ovedwr
it
ing,
may
bes
elf
-publ
i
shabook.
Ify
oul
oveds
toc
ks,
thi
nkaboutac
areeri
n-
nanc
e.I
fyoul
ovedc
omput
ers
,thi
nkaboutc
odi
ng,
ands
oon.
Wendourpas
sionsatt
heageof1
0,and
t
heyt
endt
oagegr
acef
ull
ywi
thus
,butweof
tenf
orgett
hem i
nlaws
chool
.

J
AMESAL
TUCHER
Ent
repr
eneur
,Podcas
ter
,Aut
hor

Whenitc
omest
oguri
ngoutwhatt
odowi
thyourl
if
e,t
her
eisnoone
r
ight
orper
manent
answer
:
Wheni
tcomest
otheques
ti
on
Whats
houl
dIdowi
thmyl
i
fe?
,y
ouof
tenheart
hreedi
er
entc
ommon
pi
ecesofadv
ice.
Somes
ay,
Pl
ayt
oyours
trengt
hs.
Inot
herwor
ds,
gur
eoutwhaty
ou
regoodat
,andgo
dot
hat
.Somes
ay,
Fol
l
owy
ourpas
sion.
Inot
herwor
ds,
gur
eoutwhaty
oul
i
ket
odo,
andbui
l
dal
i
fe
ar
oundi
t.Andt
henot
her
ssay
,Fi
gur
eoutwhatt
hemar
ketneedsandgodot
hat
.
Thi
sist
he
ti
germom
appr
oac
h(i
.
e.Ther
esanur
sings
hor
tagei
nCal
i
for
nia?Gobec
omeanur
se.
)
.

What

spr
obl
emat
ici
sthateac
hoft
hes
ecommonpi
ecesofadv
ice,
whent
akenont
hei
rown,
isi
nsuc
ient
.
Whati
fyourpas
sioni
spl
ayi
ngt
hev
iol
i
nors
omet
hingel
set
hat

sawf
ull
yhar
dtomonet
iz
e?Orwhati
fyou
re
notpas
sionat
eaboutwhaty
ou
regoodat
?Andi
fyouj
ustpur
sueac
areerbas
edonwhatt
hemar
ket
needs
,youmaynotbeabl
etodoi
tforv
eryl
ongbec
aus
eyoumaynotenj
oyi
t.

Y
ouhav
etodev
elopac
ompet
it
iveadv
ant
agebyi
nter
sec
tingal
lthr
eec
ons
ider
ati
ons
:youras
set
s
(
str
engt
hs)
,as
pir
ati
ons(
val
ues
,pas
sions
,et
c.)
,andt
hemar
ketr
eal
i
ti
es.
Fitt
hos
ethr
eepuz
zlepi
ecest
oget
h-
ert
oar
ri
veatas
mar
tPl
anAf
ory
ourc
areer
.Howc
any
oul
ever
agey
ours
trengt
hst
oac
hiev
esomeof
y
ouras
pir
ati
onswhi
l
enav
igat
ingt
her
eal
i
ti
esar
oundy
ou?Y
ou
l
lnec
ess
ari
l
yhav
etot
radeoons
ome
t
hingsal
ongt
heway
.

Fi
nal
l
y,t
heans
wer
stoanyoft
hes
eques
ti
onswi
l
lchange.
Youras
set
schange.
Youras
pir
ati
onsc
hange.
The
mar
ketc
hanges
.Youal
way
shav
etoi
ter
ateony
ourpl
anst
oac
countf
ort
hes
echanges
.Ther
esnoone
r
ight
,per
manentans
wert
otheques
ti
on.

BENCASNOCHA
Aut
horofTheAl
l
iance

9
 CHAPTER 2

TheBes t&Worst
CareerAdvi
ce
I
veEverRecei
ved
Whet herwewanti tornot,wereboundt ogetalotofcar
eeradvi
ceov ert
he
courseofourli
v es
. Someofi twil
lsti
ckwithusforev
erandsomeofi twon
t
resonateatal
l
. ThePr oductHuntc ommunityhasaskeddozensofLIVEChat
guestsaboutthebes tandwor stcareeradvi
cethey
veeverrecei
ved.Here
s
whats omeofthem s haredwithus.
1
0
Phot
obyRober
tMax
wel
l

For
m habi
tsar
oundaf
ews
trengt
hs:
Y
ouar
etheav
erageoft
hev
epeopl
eyouas
soc
iat
ewi
thmos
t.Al
so,
youdon'
tneedt
o
getmuc
hri
ghtt
obeandf
eel
suc
ces
sful
.Jus
tfor
m habi
tsar
oundoneort
wos
trengt
hs.

TI
M FERRI
SS
Aut
hor
,Ent
repr
eneur
,Podcast
er

1
1
TheBes
tCar
eerAdvi
ceI
veEverRec
eived

Wr
it
eyourf
utur
eres
ume:
J
onat
hanRos
enber
g,f
ormerSVPofPr
oduc
tatGoogl
e,us
edt
oas
kal
lthePMsonhi
steam t
owr
it
ethei
r
r
esumei
n10y
ear
s.Wher
edoy
ouwant
ttobe?I
wass
kept
ical
unt
ilI
didi
t.I
real
i
zedpr
ett
yqui
ckl
ythatmy
r
esumei
n10y
ear
sdi
dn
tsay
CEO.
Idi
dn
twantt
obeaCEO.
ButI
hadn
tex
pli
ci
tl
yst
atedt
hat
,andi
n
manyway
sthePM c
areerpat
hdef
aul
tst
otheCEOc
areerpat
h.Knowi
ngI
want
eds
omet
hingdi
er
ent
hel
pedmebemor
edel
i
ber
ateaboutmyc
areerdec
isi
onsandc
ommuni
cat
ingmygoal
stoot
her
s.

KENNORTON
Par
tneratGoogl
eVent
ures

Cul
ti
vat
eyouri
ntui
ti
on:
Thebes
tpi
eceofadv
iceI
'
veev
ergot
tenwasi
nthef
orm ofaques
ti
onandi
t
srel
ati
vel
ysi
mpl
e:
Whatdo
y
our
eal
l
ywant
?That
'
sfundament
all
ywher
efol
ksendups
tuc
kint
hei
rcar
eer
s(orl
i
femor
egener
all
y)
;
whent
heydon'
thav
eani
ntui
ti
ve,
expl
i
cabl
esens
eofwhatt
heyr
eal
l
ywant
.Asar
esul
t,peopl
eendup
doi
ngwhat
evert
heyt
hinki
sex
pec
tedoft
hem i
nli
fe.
Theymov
eont
othenex
trungoft
hel
addert
heyar
e
al
readyon,
whet
hert
hat
'
sgr
ads
chool
ort
henex
tengi
neer
ingmanagementpos
it
ionorwhat
ever
.Butat
s
omepoi
nt,
youhav
etohones
tl
yas
ses
swhet
hert
henex
tst
epi
sreal
l
ywhaty
ouwant
andwheny
ouc
an'
t
ans
wert
hat
,it
'
spr
ett
yter
ri
fy
ing.
Soi
tcomesdownt
ocul
ti
vat
ingani
ntui
ti
on(
rat
hert
hanc
old,
har
dlogi
cal
ex
planat
ion)ofwhaty
ouf
eel
isr
ightf
ory
ou.

J
ASONGOLDMAN
Whi
teHous
eChi
efDi
git
alOcerf
ort
heObamaAdmi
nis
trat
ion

Knowyours
trengt
hs:
Mydadhasc
ons
ist
ent
lyt
oldme:
jus
tdoy
ourbes
twhi
chac
tual
l
yisqui
teac
hal
l
engi
ngpi
eceofadv
ice
bec
aus
eIal
way
sfeel
li
keI
canbedoi
ngbet
ter
!Ihav
eal
sor
ecei
vedal
otofadv
icet
ofoc
usonmy
s
trengt
hs,
andt
ryt
ondapat
hthatenabl
esmet
oex
pres
sthem.
Forme,
VChasbeenabet
ter
tt
han
any
thi
ngI
'
vedonet
odat
eandI
thi
nki
twasmyf
ocusonndi
ngar
olewher
eIc
oul
dputmy
sel
ftomy
bes
t
us
et
hathel
pedmendt
hisc
areerpat
h.

MI
CHELLETANDLER
For
merVCatTr
ini
tyVent
ures

1
2
Knowyourweaknes
ses
,too:
Thebes
tadv
ice(
andI
nowgi
vei
tof
tent
oot
her
s)hasbeent
oknowwhaty
ouar
ebadat
it
'
shal
fthat
bat
tl
e,i
nmyopi
nion.
Knowi
ngwhaty
ou'
regoodati
seas
ybutt
aki
ngt
hats
tepandadmi
tt
ingt
haty
ouar
e
badats
omet
hingwi
l
lpus
hyous
omuc
hfur
theri
nyourc
areer
.Al
so,
whoc
aresi
fyou'
rebadats
omet
hingi
n
par
ti
cul
ar?Y
ouc
anal
way
shi
rear
oundi
t.:
)

CHELSACROWLEY
Co-
founderofSt
owawayCos
met
ics

Wri
teyourr
esumei
n10y
ear
s.Wher
edoy
ouwant
t
obe?
KENNORTON

Cul
ti
vat
eti
mel
esss
kil
ls
:
Wr
it
eev
eryday
.Ev
eni
fyou'
renotawr
it
er,
Indt
hispr
act
icet
obec
lar
if
yi
ngf
ormanyt
hings
.Thoughi
deal
l
y,
t
hatf
orm ofwr
it
ingi
snotemai
l
.

MGSI
EGLER
Par
tneratGoogl
eVent
ures

Don
twor
ryabouts
ett
ingyour
sel
fupf
ort
henextj
ob:
Ear
lyon,
someonet
oldmet
ojus
tdot
het
hingI
want
edt
odoatt
hatmomentandnotwor
ryabout
set
ti
ng
my
sel
fupf
ort
henex
tjob.
Thatadv
icehass
erv
edmer
eal
l
ywel
landl
edt
osomeunex
pec
tedc
hoi
ces
.
Ot
hert
hant
hat
,It
hinkt
hehar
des
tpar
tofbui
l
dingac
areeri
slear
ningwhent
ofol
l
owadv
iceandwhennot
t
o.Hav
inggr
eatment
orsi
sgr
eat
,buti
t'
simpor
tantt
oknowwhent
otr
usty
ourowni
ntui
ti
onandmakec
on-
t
rar
ian,
ris
kydec
isi
onsr
athert
hanj
ustf
oll
owt
he
conv
ent
ional
wi
sdom.
All
oft
hebes
tfounder
shav
eto
i
gnor
emor
eadv
icet
hant
heyt
ake.

ETHANKURZWEI
L
Par
tneratBes
semerVent
urePar
tner
s

1
3
T
obewor
ldc
las
sats
omet
hing,wor
koni
tever
ydayf
oryear
s:
L
ear
ntobeT-
shaped:
begoodatabunc
hofs
tu,
butt
henhav
eac
lears
uper
powerwher
eyou'
rewor
ld
c
las
s.T
obewor
ldc
las
sats
omet
hing,
you'
l
lhav
etowor
konas
ingl
ethi
ngni
ghtanddayf
ory
ear
s.Spend
t
imewr
it
ingandr
eec
tingmor
ethanr
eadi
ng,
andmor
ethanr
eadi
ngt
weet
s.I
t'
sgoodt
obl
endy
ourwor
k
andy
ourhobbi
es;
thats
aysy
ouenj
oyy
ourwor
kenought
odoi
tal
lthet
ime.

ANDREW CHEN
HeadofRi
derGr
owt
hatUber

Phot
obyThr
iveGl
obal

Whatyoudon
tdoi
sjus
tasi
mpor
tantaswhatyoudo:
Oneofmyf
avor
it
epi
ecesofadvi
cei
sn
taboutwhatt
odobutwhatNOTt
odo.Idi
damaj
or
li
feaudi
t
whenIt
urnedf
ort
y,andIr
eal
i
zedhowmanypr
oject
sIhadcommi
tt
edt
oinmyheads
uchasl
ear
ning
Ger
man,becomi
ngagoods
kier
,andl
ear
ningt
ocook.Mos
tremai
nedunni
shed,andmanywer
enoteven
s
tar
ted.Yett
hes
ecount
les
sincompl
etepr
oject
sdr
ainedmyener
gyanddi
us
edmyat
tent
ion.Ass
oonas
t
hel
ewasopened,eachonet
ookal
i
ttl
ebi
tofmeaway
.Itwasver
yli
ber
ati
ngt
oreal
i
zet
hatIcoul
dcom-
pl
eteapr
ojectbys
impl
ydr
oppi
ngi
tbyel
i
minat
ingi
tfr
om myt
o-dol
i
st.Whycar
ryar
oundt
hisunneces
-
s
arybaggage?

ARI
ANNAHUFFI
NGTON
Co-
founderofTheHungt
onPost
,Aut
hor
1
4
Domor
eofwhats
car
esyou:
Whatwoul
dyoudoi
fyouwer
en'
taf
rai
d?Thi
sisapos
terwe'
vehungont
hewal
l
sac
ros
scampus
.Itr
eal
l
y
r
esonat
eswi
thme.

J
ULI
EZHUO
Pr
oductDes
ignDi
rect
oratFacebook

Bec
omf
ort
abl
ebei
ngunc
omf
ort
abl
e:
Bec
omf
ort
abl
ebei
ngunc
omf
ort
abl
e.Thathasbec
omeadeni
ngf
ocusofmi
ne.

DAVI
DPAKMAN
Par
tneratVenr
ock

Whatwoul
dyoudoi
fyouwer
en'
taf
rai
d?
J
ULI
EZHUO

Ti
mei
syourmos
tval
uabl
eas
set
:
Onet
hingt
hats
tuc
kwi
thmei
sOnl
yagr
eet
onewc
ommi
tment
swhenbot
hyourheadandy
ourhear
tsay
y
es.
It

saquot
efr
om Ri
char
dEv
anst
hatI
ori
ginal
l
yreadonMar
cAndr
ees
sen
sbl
og.
Ithi
nki
tmakess
ens
e
onal
i
ter
all
evel
ther
e'ss
omuc
hgoi
ngoni
nthewor
ld,
soc
ommi
tment
sar
ereal
l
yex
pens
ivebec
aus
eif
y
ouf
oll
owt
hrough,
youar
emi
ssi
ngoutonot
heroppor
tuni
ti
es.
Att
heendoft
heday
,themai
nthi
ngy
ou
hav
etoc
ont
ri
but
eisy
ourt
imes
oyous
houl
dbepr
ett
ycar
eful
wit
hhowy
ouus
eit
.

Theev
enmor
eimpor
tantpi
eceoft
hisquot
eist
hebi
tabouty
ourheadandy
ourhear
tbei
ngi
nagr
eement
.I
t
hinki
t'
sagoodi
deat
odot
hatf
ormos
tbi
gdec
isi
ons
es
pec
ial
l
yins
tar
tupswher
ether
eiss
omuc
hchange
andunc
ert
aint
y.I
fyouar
ehi
ri
ngorr
ingpeopl
e,orc
hoos
ingwhi
chj
obt
odonex
t,ordec
idi
ngwhatt
owor
k
on,
tryashar
dasy
ouc
ant
omakes
urey
ourheadandy
ourhear
tagr
ee.
Andonemor
ethi
ng:
makes
ure
y
ougetenoughs
leep!

CHARLI
ECHEEVER
Co-
founderofQuor
aandExpo

1
5
Payat
tent
ionwhenpeopl
etel
lyounott
ofol
lowi
nthei
rfoot
steps
:
Themos
timpr
ess
ivepi
eceofadv
iceI
gotwasf
rom myt
hes
iss
uper
vis
or.
Het
oldmenott
ogetaPhD.
He
s
aidI
woul
ddone,
butnotbr
il
li
ant
lyandI
'
ddomuc
hbet
terandhav
emor
efunoutont
hewor
ld.
Thi
swas
t
heoneguys
ayi
ng,
Don'
tbel
i
keme.
Dos
omet
hingel
se.
It
ookhi
sadv
ice.

TI
M HARFORD
TheUnder
coverEconomi
statFi
nanci
alTi
mes

Sur
roundyour
sel
fwi
thpeopl
ewhoar
esmar
tert
hanyouar
e:
St
andnex
ttopeopl
esmar
tert
hany
ouar
e.Bas
ical
l
y,t
hisdes
cri
besal
lthec
o-f
ounder
sI'
vewor
kedwi
th.

J
USTI
NKAN
CEO ofAt
ri
um L
TS,AngelI
nves
tor

I
t'
simport
anttoknowwhent otr
usty
ourownint
uit
ion
andmakec ontr
arian,r
iskydeci
si
onsrat
hert
hanjust
f
oll
owt heconventi
onal
wisdom.
ETHANKURZWEI
L

Li
veyourt
rut
handdon
ttakeyour
sel
ftoos
eri
ous
ly:
1
.Don'
ttakey
our
sel
ftoos
eri
ous
ly
2.
Liv
eyourt
rut
h(bey
our
sel
fandl
i
veaut
hent
ical
l
y)
3.
Appr
eci
atet
hat99%oft
hisi
spur
eluc
kandi
tcoul
dbes
omeot
hers
chmuc
kwhogotl
ucky
4.
Dot
her
ightt
hingev
enwheni
t'
sthehar
dorunpopul
art
hing
5.
See#1

CHAMA
M THPALI
HAPI
TIYA
CEO ofSoci
alCapi
tal
,OwnerofGol
denSt
ateWar
ri
ors

1
6
Youdon
thavet
oli
stent
oal
loft
headvi
ceyouget
:
Thebes
tpi
eceofadv
iceI
gotwasf
rom Hi
tenShah.
Het
oldmet
hatasaf
ounder
,al
otofpeopl
ewi
l
ltr
yto
gi
vey
ouadv
iceandy
oudon'
thav
etol
i
stent
othem.
You'
res
tar
ti
ngac
ompanybec
aus
e*y
ou*hav
esome-
t
hingy
ouwantt
oshar
ewi
tht
hewor
ld.
Nobodyel
sec
andot
hatf
ory
ou,
andt
hei
radv
icewi
l
lal
way
sbe
s
kewedbyt
hei
rownex
per
ienc
es.
Ify
oudon'
ttr
usti
nyour
sel
fandy
ouri
ntui
ti
on,
thenwhyar
eyouev
en
her
e?

NADI
AEGHBAL
Communi
tyPr
ogr
amsatGi
tHub

Phot
obyGet
tyI
mages

Havear
elent
les
sbel
iefi
nyour
sel
f:
Bel
i
evei
nyour
sel
fnomat
terwhat
.Whenyouhaveadr
eam,t
her
e'sonl
yoneper
sonwhocanachi
eve
i
tyou.Makei
thappenwi
thyoureor
t,det
ermi
nat
ion,andf
ocus
.Whenyoucombi
neal
loft
hat
,thi
ngswi
l
l
s
tar
ttof
all
int
opl
ace.

HARRI
SONBARNES
NBAPl
ayerf
ort
heDal
l
asMaver
icks
1
7
Ther
iski
estt
hingyouc
andoi
snott
aker
isks
:
Ther
iski
estt
hingonec
andoc
areer
-wi
sei
stot
akenor
isk,
bec
aus
ethewor
ldi
scons
tant
lyc
hangi
ng.

GEOFFLEWI
S
Par
tneratFounder
sFund

Noi
sjus
tas
tar
ti
ngpoi
nt:
Thebes
tpi
eceofadv
iceI
everr
ecei
vedwast
hat
Noi
sof
tenj
ustt
hes
tar
ti
ngpoi
nt,
andmos
tcar
eer
s
wor
thhav
ingi
nvol
veaf
airamountofdet
ermi
nat
ion,
gri
t,andj
ustgener
al
try
,tr
yagai
n-
ing.
That
'
sbeen
t
ruet
ent
imesov
eratTheMus
e,andI
'
msogl
adI
lear
nedt
hel
ess
onear
ly
.

KATHRYNMI
NSHEW
FounderofTheMus
e

Wor
khar
dert
hanever
yoneel
se:
1
.Ai
mtobec
omenott
hebes
tatwhaty
oudobut"
theonl
yone"whodoeswhaty
oudo,
andgur
eouthow
t
odenet
hat
;
2.
Wor
khar
dert
hanev
ery
oney
ouc
ompet
ewi
th,
eveni
fyouar
esmar
ter
/t
alent
ed.
3.
Str
ongbondst
rumpweaker
,manybondsi
nanet
wor
k.

KEI
THRABOI
S
Par
tneratKhos
laVent
ures

Li
stent
oadvi
cet
hatendur
es:
I
thi
nkmos
tadv
icet
endst
obeout
dat
ed.
Adv
iceaboutmanagementi
sendur
ing.
Butadv
iceaboutpr
oduc
ts,
t
echnol
ogy
,andmar
ket
sfadesf
ast
.Thel
ear
ner
'
smi
ndandey
esar
ekey
.

J
ONSTEI
NBERG
Co-
founderofCheddar

1
8
TheWor
stCar
eerAdvi
ceI
veEverRec
eived
Ofc
our
se,
notal
ladv
icei
sgoodadv
ice.
Inaddi
ti
ont
oshar
ingt
hebes
tadv
icet
hey
veev
err
ecei
ved,
anumber
ofPr
oduc
tHuntLI
VEChatgues
tsal
sot
oldusaboutadv
icet
hey
ver
ecei
vedt
hathas
ntqui
tewor
kedoutf
or
t
hem.
Asi
mpor
tantasi
tist
oseekadv
icef
rom ot
her
s,i
tisequal
l
yimpor
tantt
oreal
i
zewhatadv
icenott
otake.

Theadvi
ceyougetc
anbe(
ver
y)wr
ong:
Atmyr
stpr
ogr
ammi
ngj
oboutofc
oll
ege,
Igotex
cit
edaboutt
heweb(
thi
swas1
994-
1995)
.Ic
oul
dn'
tget
ourmanagementex
cit
edaboutt
hei
nter
netandev
ent
ual
l
ydec
idedt
omov
eon.
Thewor
stadv
icec
ame
f
rom mybos
satt
hatj
ob,
whos
aidt
hei
nter
netr
emi
ndedhi
m ofCBr
adi
o.
Year
sago,
truc
ker
sus
edCB
r
adi
o,t
heni
tbec
ameaf
adandev
ery
bodyhadaCBr
adi
o.KnowwhohasaCBr
adi
onow?T
ruc
ker
s.Thei
n-
t
erneti
saf
ad.
Idi
dn'
tl
is
tent
ohi
m.:
-)

KENNORTON
Par
tneratGoogl
eVent
ures

Youc
hoos
ewhatyouwantt
ogetus
edt
o:
Ear
lyonwhenI
wasaboutt
otaket
hej
obatMc
Kins
ey,
someoneI
res
pec
tedv
erymuc
htol
dmenott
otakei
t
bec
aus
eI'
dget
toous
edt
othel
i
fes
tyl
eandnev
erbeabl
etodoany
thi
ngr
iskyornon-
tr
adi
ti
onal
aft
er-
war
ds.
Wit
hal
lduer
espec
t,I
dis
agr
ee.
Ithi
nkget
ti
ng
usedt
oany
thi
ngi
sac
hoi
cey
oumake,
nots
ome-
t
hingi
nev
itabl
e.I
'
mreal
l
ygl
adI
wor
kedi
ncons
ult
ingf
ort
woy
ear
sbutal
sos
ogl
adt
hatI
didn'
tl
etmy
sel
f
get
usedt
othel
i
fes
tyl
e,andwast
otal
l
ycomf
ort
abl
ejumpi
ngi
ntos
omet
hingc
ompl
etel
ydi
er
entaf
ter
-
war
ds(
l
ikes
tar
tups
,andwor
kingi
nEas
tAf
ri
ca)
.

KATHRYNMI
NSHEW
FounderofTheMus
e

Pat
ienc
eis
ntal
waysagoodt
hing:
Peopl
ekeptt
ell
i
ngmet
obepat
ientandgoodt
hingswoul
dhappent
hat
'
sjus
tbul
l
shi
t.Don
twai
t,makei
t
happen.

J
ASONCALACANI
S
AngelI
nves
tor
,Ent
repr
eneur
,Aut
hor

1
9
 Goodt
hingsc
omet
othos
ewhowor
k:
Thewor
stadv
iceI
'
veev
ergot
teni
sthatgoodt
hingsc
omet
othos
ewhowai
t.
.
.Wr
ong!
Goodt
hingsc
omet
o
t
hos
ewhowor
k.

HANNAHCRANSTON
Hos
tandEx
ecut
ivePr
oducerofThi
nkTank

Ever
yonei
smaki
ngi
tupast
heygoal
ong:
Ther
eisonei
mpor
tantc
aveataboutadv
ice:
don
tgett
ooc
aughtupi
nget
ti
ngadv
iceorv
ali
dat
ionf
rom peopl
e
y
ouc
ons
idert
obes
ucc
ess
ful
.I
ntheend,
themos
timpor
tantt
hingy
ouc
andof
ory
ourc
areer
,andl
i
fe,
isc
ome
t
oknowy
our
sel
fwel
l
andmakedec
isi
onsac
cor
dingl
y.Nav
alRav
ikants
aidi
tbes
t:
Youdon
tneedt
ondme,
y
ouneedt
ondy
ou.

Humansar
ehar
dwi
redt
oli
st
ent
oaut
hor
it
y.We'
ret
ri
bal
/hi
erar
chi
cal
pri
mat
es.J
uli
anJ
amesmakest
hear
-
gument
sthatt
her
stGodswer
eact
ual
l
ydeadki
ngswhos
eaut
hor
it
ywes
ti
ll
craved.Andi
t'
sthenat
ureof
s
oci
etyt
hatt
hepeopl
eont
op,ei
therpol
i
ti
ci
ansorbus
ines
sleader
s,wanther
owor
shi
psi
ncei
tgi
vest
hem
power
.It
hinki
tjus
thel
pst
obever
yawar
ethatf
undament
all
y,t
her
ear
enoadul
ts
.Ever
yonei
smaki
ngi
tup
ast
heygoal
ong.Youhavet
ondyourownpat
h,pi
cki
ng,choos
ing,t
aki
nganddi
scar
dingasyous
eet
.I
choos
emos
tl
ytol
ear
nfr
om books
thos
ear
emy
aut
hor
it
ygur
es,
butevent
her
eIt
ryt
obever
ysel
ect
ive.

NAVALRAVI
KANT
Co-
founderofAngel
List
20
 CHAPTER 3

Educati
on
(orLac
kTher
eof
)
Thereismuc hdebateabouttheimportanceofhi
ghereduc ati
onpar t
icul
arlyi
f
youwantt obecomeanent r
epreneur.Whilesomear guethatcollegeand
graduateworkhasbeenac rit
ical
partofthei
rcareersuccess,otherss aythat
there
snoeduc at
ionbett
erthanactuall
ytaki
ngtheent r
epreneurialleap
themselves.
Wheni tcomestoeduc at
ion,noonepat hisri
ghtforev eryoneand
that
shighl
i
ghtedinthevari
edadv i
cethroughoutthi
snex tsect
ion.
21
Phot
obyEr
icRi
sber
g,As
soc
iat
edPr
ess

Forent
repr
eneurs
,c ons
iderj
oini
ngastar
tupi
nst
eadof
get
tingamas t
ersdegr
ee:
I
fyourgoal
ist
obec
omeanent
repr
eneur
,myadv
icei
stoj
oinanex
ist
ingc
ompanyt
hat
i
sal
readypr
ovi
dinggr
eatv
aluet
othewor
ldt
olear
nhowi
tisdone.
Whet
herornoty
ou
needanadv
anc
eddegr
eer
eal
l
ydependsont
hewayy
ouwantt
ospec
ial
i
ze.
(Idon'
t
ev
enhav
eabac
hel
or'
sdegr
ee,
soc
ert
ainl
yamas
ter
'
sisnotr
equi
redi
ngener
alf
or
bei
nganent
repr
eneur
.
)

DUSTI
N MOSKOVI
TZ
Co-
founderofAsanaandFacebook

22
Ther
esval
uei
nlear
ninghowt
olear
n:
Thev
alueofac
oll
egedegr
eedependsat
ononwhatone'
sbac
kgr
oundi
s,andwhi
chel
donei
sgoi
ngi
nto.
Nothav
ingaf
ormal
col
l
egeeduc
ati
onc
ert
ainl
ywasaweaknes
sint
ermsofbot
hmydi
sci
pli
near
ound
l
ear
ning(
thewhol
el
ear
ninghowt
olear
nt
hingt
hatal
otofpeopl
egetf
rom c
oll
ege)
,aswel
lasi
ndev
elop-
i
ngapr
ofes
sional
soc
ial
net
wor
kori
ndus
tryc
ont
act
s.Li
vi
ngi
nNYC,
Iof
tenenc
ount
erpeopl
ewhoc
asual
l
y,
mat
ter
-of
-f
act
lyt
alkabouthowt
heypar
tner
edwi
th,
orgots
uppor
tfr
om,
peopl
etheymett
hroughc
oll
ege
(
oft
enatI
vyL
eagues
chool
sorot
her
bignameuni
ver
sit
ies
)andi
t'
sst
ri
ki
ngt
omewhatal
egupt
hatpr
o-
v
ides
,par
ti
cul
arl
yforpeopl
efr
om under
repr
esent
edbac
kgr
ounds
.

ANI
LDASH
CEO ofFogCr
eek

Thought
sonhi
ghereduc
ati
onf
rom apr
ofes
sor
:
I
'
m af
anofeduc
ati
on.
Ofc
our
se,
I'
m auni
ver
sit
ypr
ofes
sor
,whi
chmeanst
hatI
hav
eac
oni
ctofi
nter
est
.I
t
hinkabouteduc
ati
onasagambl
ewi
thahi
ghex
pec
tedpay
o.
Manyoft
hes
tar
tupsI
vis
ithav
elot
sofi
nter
-
es
ti
ngi
deas
,butt
heys
eem t
ohav
enev
erdi
scov
eredt
hel
i
brar
y,whi
chmeanst
hatt
heys
tar
tev
ery
thi
ngas
i
ftheyar
ether
stpeopl
etohav
eani
dea.
Now,
it'
snotr
eal
l
ythei
rfaul
tbec
aus
etheyar
ebus
ywi
thot
her
t
hings
,butI
thi
nkt
hatt
oomuc
hoft
heeor
tint
het
echs
ect
ori
sfoc
usedonr
edi
scov
eri
ngt
hingst
hatwe
knowal
ready
.Fr
om t
hatper
spec
tiv
e,I
thi
nkt
hats
tudy
ingc
anpr
ovi
dey
ouwi
thabas
eofknowl
edgef
rom
whi
chy
ouc
oul
dev
aluat
eifadi
rec
tioni
swor
thwhi
l
eornotandwhatot
herl
i
ter
atur
eyoumi
ghtwantt
olook
at
.Isi
tal
way
sgoi
ngt
ohav
eapos
it
ivepay
o?Ofc
our
senot
.ButI
sus
pec
titof
tendoes
.Oneot
hert
hing:
if
y
ouar
eeduc
ated,
iti
snotal
way
seas
yfory
out
oat
tr
ibut
ewhaty
ouknowt
oapar
ti
cul
arc
las
s,whi
chi
swhy
I
thi
nkt
hatmanypeopl
edon'
tsuc
ient
lyappr
eci
atet
hei
reduc
ati
on.

DANARI
ELY
Aut
horofPr
edi
ctabl
yIr
rat
ional

Thought
sonhi
ghereduc
ati
onf
rom ac
oll
egedr
opout
:
I
thi
nki
t'
sav
eryper
sonal
ans
werf
oreac
hper
son.
Idon'
tthi
nkf
ormal
educ
ati
oni
sabadt
hing,
buti
t'
sabout
whats
truc
tur
eandenv
ironmentl
eadst
othebes
tper
sonal
growt
handl
ear
ningf
ory
ou.
Forme,
school
was
n'ti
t.I
foundmy
sel
fmuc
hmor
eengagedandex
cit
edaboutl
ear
ningonc
eIwass
elf
-di
rec
tedandwor
k-
i
ngwi
thi
nst
art
ups
.It
hinkt
hemos
timpor
tantt
hingi
stobet
hir
styf
ornewknowl
edge,
andknowl
edget
hat
c
hal
l
engest
het
hingsy
oui
nnat
elybel
i
eve.
Ireadwaymor
enowt
hanI
everdi
dins
chool
andndmy
sel
f
c
ons
tant
lys
ear
chi
ngf
ornewpeopl
etol
ear
nfr
om.

RYANSARVER
Par
tneratRedpoi
ntVent
ures

23
Degr
eesar
ebec
omi
ngl
essandl
essr
elevant
:
I
'
dlear
ntoc
ode,
tos
ell
,andI
'
dreadal
ot.
I'
dbei
ntot
echnol
ogy
,si
nceal
lec
onomi
cgr
owt
hfundament
all
y
der
ivesf
rom t
echnol
ogydev
elopment
.ButI
'
dbeaf
reeagentandkeepanopenmi
nd.
Degr
eesar
ethe
mar
ker
sthatt
hel
astgener
ati
onneeded.
They
'reget
ti
ngl
essandl
essr
elev
antwi
thev
erypas
singday
.I
t
hankt
heuni
ver
set
hatI
didn'
tfol
l
owt
hroughonanear
lyandi
l
l-
conc
eiv
edpl
ant
ogetaJ
D.I
fyouar
egoi
ng
t
ogetadegr
ee,
getonei
nphy
sic
s,mat
h,orc
omput
ers
cienc
e.Thement
almodel
sthaty
oudev
elopwi
l
l
hel
pyoui
nmanyas
pec
tsofl
i
fe.

NAVALRAVI
KANT
Co-
founderofAngel
Lis
t

It
hinkthemos ti
mport
antthi
ngi
stobethi
rst
yfor
newknowl edgethatc
hall
engest
hethi
ngsyou
i
nnatelybeli
eve.
RYANSARVER

Advi
cef
orc
oll
egedr
opout
s:
I
woul
dident
if
ysomepeopl
eyouadmi
rewhoar
eanot
chort
woaheadofy
oui
nthei
rcar
eer
,andr
eac
hout
andoert
oaddv
aluef
orf
ree.
Dof
reewor
k.St
arts
howi
ngy
ouc
anaddv
alueasas
idepr
ojec
tvol
unt
eer
.
T
ryt
obr
eaki
nthatway
.

BENCASNOCHA
Aut
horofTheAl
l
iance

Youc
anal
waysgobac
ktos
chool
:
Thr
oughami
xofbadgr
adesandbor
edom,
IknewI
was
n'tagr
eattf
ort
hec
oll
egeenv
ironment
sodr
op-
pi
ngoutwasr
elat
ivel
yeas
yforme(
minusmi
ssi
ngmyf
ri
ends
).Andt
her
iskofnothav
ingadegr
eei
fBox
di
dn'
twor
koutwasmi
ti
gat
ed,
asI
wast
echni
cal
l
yonal
eav
eofabs
enc
e,s
oIc
oul
dal
way
sgobac
k.Al
way
s
pr
otec
tthedowns
ide,
butdon'
tdr
ivey
ourdec
isi
onsbas
edoni
t.

AARONLEVI
E
Co-
founderofBox

24
CHAPTER 4

ForSt
udents
andGraduat
es 25
Phot
obyAndr
eChung,
TheWas
hingt
onPos
t/Get
tyI
mages

Forc
oll
eges
tudent
s:
I
bec
amear
eaderi
ncol
l
ege.
Iwasex
pos
edt
osomanynewi
deasandway
soft
hinki
ng
aboutt
hewor
ldt
hathav
efundament
all
ychangedt
hewayt
hatI
li
ve.
So,
I'
denc
our
age
y
out
oex
pos
eyour
sel
ftoasmanyi
deasaspos
sibl
e.Thewaywet
hinkaboutt
hewor
ld
i
nfor
mst
hewayt
hatwes
howupi
nthewor
ld.

DERAY MCKESSON
Ci
vilRi
ght
sAct
ivi
st,HostofPodSavet
hePeopl
e

26
WhatShoul
dIFoc
usonWhi
lei
nSc
hool
?

Fors
tudent
sfr
eshoutofc
oll
ege:
Gi
veupy
ourl
i
fe.
Grows
omet
hic
kski
n.Don'
tgi
veas
hit
,andber
eadyt
odowhat
everi
ttakesatal
lcos
ts.
Dowhaty
oul
oveandgur
eouthowt
omakeadi
er
enc
efort
het
hingsy
ouc
areabout
.Weav
ethati
nto
what
everbus
ines
sorpr
oduc
tyouar
ebui
l
ding.

AMANDAKAHL
OW
Founderof6Sens
e

Bepat
ient
.I'
vemetmanyy
ounggr
adswhoar
eex
pec
tingi
mmedi
ates
ucc
ess
,andbec
omedi
ssat
is
ed
whent
heydon'
tac
hiev
ethei
rgoal
sri
ghtaway
.Takey
ourt
ime,
thi
nkl
ong-
ter
m,andl
ear
n.

KENNORTON
Par
tneratGoogl
eVent
ures

Pur
sues
idehus
tl
es.
Ify
ou'
vegott
hingsy
ouwantt
obui
l
d,j
ustbui
l
dthem f
ort
hes
akeofl
ear
ninganew
t
hing.
Don'
tobs
essov
ers
tar
ti
ngaf
ull
onc
ompanyr
ightnow.
Ands
urr
oundy
our
sel
fwi
thpeopl
ewhoc
hal
-
l
engeandmot
ivat
eyou.

ALEXI
SOHANI
AN
Co-
founderofReddi
t

Fors
tudent
sas
pir
ingt
obet
echent
repr
eneur
s:
Fi
rst
ly
,thi
nkabouthowy
ouc
anac
tual
l
yhel
pthewor
ld(
notbui
l
dsomet
ri
vi
alapp)
.Sec
ondl
y,s
tudyhar
dsc
i-
enc
es/
mat
hs/
IT(
do*
not
*doanMBA)
.Thi
rdl
y,c
hec
kthaty
ouri
deai
s100xbet
ter(
l
owerc
ost
,et
c)t
hanany
-
t
hings
imi
l
aroutt
her
e.

WI
LLMARSHALL
Co-
founderofPl
anetLabs

ForMBAs
tudent
s:
Foc
us(
ent
repr
eneur
ial
l
y)onwhaty
ouf
eel
li
key
ou'
dbet
hebes
tper
soni
nthewor
ldt
odo.
Foc
us(
academi
-
c
all
y)ont
hos
ethi
ngst
hatwi
l
lmakey
ouamor
eeec
tiv
eleader
.

TRI
STANWALKER
FounderofWal
ker&Company
27
 CHAPTER 5

St
art
upsvs
.
Bi
gCompanies
I
fy oureconsi
deringjoiningorbui l
dingas t
art
up,howdoy ouknowwheni tsthe
ri
ghtt i
me?Isitbettertoki c
koy ourcareeratabigtechnologycompany ,or
shouldy oudiverightintoent r
epreneurshi
p?Thereares omanyv iablepathsy ou
cant aketolaunchy ourc areer.
Heressomeadv i
cef r
om sev er
alProductHunt
LIVEChatgues t
sbas edont hei
rex per
iencesatbothbigcompani esands tart
ups
atanear lyst
age.
28
Phot
obyNoahKal
i
na

Tobi
asvanSc hnei
derwasthefor
merLeadProduct
Desi
gneratSpoti
fy.Her
eswhyhedec
idedtoleave:
L
eav
ingwasar
eal
l
yhar
ddec
isi
onbec
aus
eitwasadr
eam c
ompanyt
owor
kwi
th.
Es
sent
ial
l
y,I
was
n'tgr
owi
ngany
mor
eper
sonal
l
ysoI
hadt
omakeadec
isi
on.
Iwant
ed
t
odos
omet
hingnewwher
eIdi
dn'
tknowex
act
lywhatwasgoi
ngt
ohappen.
Spot
if
yat
t
het
imeev
olv
edi
ntoahugec
ompanyandwhi
l
ether
ewer
eal
otofc
hal
l
engesand
pr
obl
emst
osol
ve,
theywer
en
ttheki
ndsofc
hal
l
engesI
wasl
ooki
ng[
for
war
dto]
.I
want
edt
ogr
owmyc
raf
t,bec
omebet
terats
olv
ings
pec
icdes
ignpr
obl
ems
,and
bec
omebet
teratbui
l
dingt
hingsoutofnot
hing.

TOBI
AS VAN SCHNEI
DER
FounderofSempl
ice
29
HunterWal
kont
hebenetofwor
kingatal
arget
echc
ompanyear
lyi
n
yourcar
eer
:
I
fyouhav
ethec
hanc
etowor
katoneort
wo
trans
for
mat
ivel
arget
echc
ompani
es,
thebes
tthi
ngy
ouget
i
sex
pos
uret
olot
sofot
hers
mar
tpeopl
e.Ov
ert
hec
our
seofac
areeri
ntec
h,t
hes
efol
kswi
l
lal
sogoont
o
dogr
eats
tuandhopef
ull
ybec
omey
ourf
ri
ends
,empl
oyees
,manager
s,i
nves
tor
s,et
c.I
als
othi
nkbei
ngat
ar
ocket
shi
p-l
i
kec
ompanygi
vesy
ouanappr
eci
ati
onf
orwhatc
angor
ight
.Ther
ear
elot
sofpos
t-mor
tems
abouthowmanyt
hingsc
angowr
ongatc
ompani
esbuti
fyou'
ves
eent
hingsgor
ight
,youbui
l
dsome
mus
clememor
yfort
hat
,too.

HUNTERWALK
Par
tneratHomebr
ew

Iopt
imiz
eaggress
ivel
yforhowmuc
hIwi
l
lgett
olear
n
i
nagivenrol
eorproj
ect
.
MOLL
YGRAHAM

Byr
onDeet
ers
aysi
t
swor
thj
oini
ngas
tar
tupr
ightaf
terc
oll
ege:
Ther
ear
ever
yfewj
obst
hatoert
hes
amel
ear
ningex
per
ienc
ethats
tar
tupsdo.
Thi
sist
ruees
pec
ial
l
yata
s
mal
l
ers
tar
tup,
wher
eyouwi
l
lbeenc
our
agedt
oleadandex
plor
eanumberofdi
er
entr
oles
,bui
l
dpr
o-
c
ess
es,
andmakej
udgment
swi
thl
i
mit
edi
nfor
mat
ion.
But
,makes
urey
ouhav
edoney
ourhomewor
kont
he
mar
ketandt
hepr
oduc
tandmos
timpor
tant
ly
,thet
eam y
ou
l
lbewor
kingwi
th.
Youwi
l
lspendmanymany
hour
swi
tht
hes
epeopl
e,s
omakes
urey
ougetal
ong!
Iwoul
dst
rongl
ycouns
ely
out
ojoi
nahi
ghqual
i
ty
c
ompanywi
thagr
eatmanager
,andf
ocusont
hatabov
erol
eandt
it
le.
It
simpor
tantt
haty
ourear
lyj
obs
hel
pyoubui
l
dment
almodel
sofs
ucc
ess
.Ify
oudon
tfeel
li
key
ou
l
lbewi
thgr
eatpeopl
e,t
hengowher
eyou
wi
l
l.J
oinal
argert
echc
ompanyf
oraf
ewy
ear
s,orev
enac
ons
ult
ingr
m(I
sinc
erel
yhadagr
eatex
per
ienc
e
atMc
Kins
eyf
ort
woy
ear
sasananal
ystandi
treal
l
yhel
pedmeunder
standt
hebas
icsofbus
ines
s).
Ear
ly
j
obsar
eimpor
tantt
obui
l
dahi
ghqual
i
tynet
wor
k,andt
olear
nhowt
obui
l
dcompani
esandpr
oduc
tsi
nthe
r
ightway
s.

BYRONDEETER
Par
tneratBes
semerVent
ures

30
KenNort
onont
heval
ueofr
ecentgr
aduat
esj
oini
nghi
gh-
growt
h
busi
nes
ses:
Myadv
icet
onewgr
adsi
stol
ookf
orhi
ghgr
owt
hbus
ines
ses
.Ify
ougetex
pos
uret
omas
siv
egr
owt
hear
lyi
n
y
ourc
areer
,you'
l
llear
nat
onofl
ess
onst
hatwi
l
lbenety
oul
ater
.You'
l
lal
soc
omeawaywi
thabr
andname
ony
ourr
esumeandanet
wor
kthatwi
l
lbei
ncr
edi
blyv
aluabl
e.

KENNORTON
Par
tneratGoogl
eVent
ures

BradFeld
sthought
sonj
oini
ngabi
gcompanyorbui
ldi
ngas
tar
tupr
ight
outofcoll
ege:
Somepeopl
ewi
l
lgethugebenetf
rom wor
kingatat
echc
ompanyast
hei
rr
stj
ob.
Other
swon'
t
.Some
peopl
ewi
l
lbewel
ltunedt
ojus
tst
art
ings
omet
hing,
espec
ial
l
yift
heyhav
edev
elopedorar
esur
roundedby
apower
ful
suppor
tnet
wor
k.Ot
her
swon'
t
.It
hinki
tisv
erydependentont
heper
son,
thec
ompany
,andt
he
des
ire.

BRADFELD
Managi
ngDi
rect
oratFoundr
yGr
oup

Newmanager sshouldn'
tas
sumetheycanl
earnthe
r
elev
antskil
l
sinthesamewaytheyhaveacqui
red
t
echni
cal
s ki
ll
s.

DUSTI
NMOSKOVI
TZ

GeoLewi
sshar
eshi
sthought
sonj
oini
ngas
tar
tupr
ightaf
tergr
aduat
ion:
I
fyouj
oint
hewr
ongs
tar
tup,
you'
l
llear
nthewr
ongl
ess
onsandy
ourc
areerwi
l
lst
artoont
hewr
ongt
rac
k.
I
fyouj
oint
her
ights
tar
tup,
it'
sbyf
art
hebes
tmov
eandbi
gges
tcar
eerar
bit
ragepl
ayc
omi
ngoutofc
oll
ege.
Gener
all
y,I
rec
ommendt
hatany
onewhoj
oinsas
tar
tups
trai
ghtoutofc
oll
eges
houl
dmakes
uret
hec
om-
panyhaspr
oduc
t-mar
kettandatl
eas
t2y
ear
sofr
unwayi
nthebank.

GEOFFLEWI
S
Par
tneratFounder
sFund

31
T
obewor
ldc
las
sats
omet
hing,wor
koni
tever
ydayf
oryear
s:
I
'
vemetpeopl
ewhoj
oinedGoogl
ewheni
twas1
,000t
o5,
000empl
oyees
,andt
heyl
ear
neds
omuc
hasi
t
gr
ew.
Ther
e'ss
omuc
hhappeni
ng,
ands
omuc
hthaty
ou'
l
llear
n,s
oIdon'
tknowi
fther
e'sev
era
tool
ate.

Y
ouwantt
omakes
urey
ou'
repos
it
ionedi
napar
toft
hec
ompanyt
hat
'
sst
il
lgr
owi
ngqui
ckl
y.Wheny
ouget
i
ntoar
ole,
you'
regoi
ngt
ohav
egr
owt
hoppor
tuni
ti
esmov
ingupi
nthatr
ole,
butmov
ingar
oundbec
omes
har
der
.Sopi
cki
ngt
her
ightpar
toft
heor
gani
zat
ionbec
omesmor
eimpor
tant
.

SARAHTAVEL
Par
tneratBenchmar
k

Whatyoudon
tdoi
sjus
tasi
mpor
tantaswhatyoudo:
Themos
tsur
pri
si
ngt
hingt
hatIl
ear
nedf
rom myt
imeatGoogl
eishowun-
nos
tal
gici
tisasacompany
.Bas
i-
cal
l
y,Googl
erewr
it
esi
ts
elf(
i
.e.i
tsi
nter
nal
code)ever
ytwoyear
s.Now,ofcour
set
hat
'
snotabs
olut
e,but
whati
tmeansi
sthati
t'
sacompanyt
hat
'
scons
tant
lymovi
ngf
orwar
danddoes
n'ts
topt
ores
toni
tsl
aur
els
ors
ucces
ses
.Ther
e'sal
waysawayt
odot
hingsbet
ter
,fas
ter
,cheaper
,ormor
epower
ful
l
y,andt
hecompa-
ny'
srel
ent
les
spur
sui
tofbet
ter
ingi
ts
elfwasi
nspi
rat
ional
.Evenwor
kingonGoogl
e+gavemei
nsi
ght
sint
o
t
hispr
oces
s,andt
othi
sday
,evenasi
trewr
it
esl
argepor
ti
onsoft
hewor
kthatwedi
doveraf
our
-year
per
iod,youcans
eehowi
tfol
dsi
nandi
ntegr
atesl
ess
onsf
rom t
hatt
imewi
thoutget
ti
ngboggeddownwi
th
as
ens
eof
fai
l
uret
hatt
heor
igi
nal
premi
seoft
henet
wor
kdi
dn'
tpanout
.

CHRI
SMESSI
NA
Pr
oductDesi
gner
32
MollyGraham t
alksaboutherc
areert
rans
iti
ons(
HRatFac ebookDi
rec
tor
ofMobi l
eatFacebookCOOatQui pVPofOper at
ionsatChan
ZuckerbergI
nit
iati
ve)
:
Al
loft
hos
etr
ans
it
ionswer
e50%l
uckbas
edonbei
ngi
nther
ightpl
aceatt
her
ightt
ime,
and50%s
ayi
ng
y
est
oabi
goppor
tuni
tywheni
twasoer
edt
omeev
eni
fi
twasv
ague,
ors
eemeds
tupi
dorc
raz
y.I
opt
imi
ze
aggr
ess
ivel
yforhowmuc
hIwi
l
lgett
olear
ninagi
venr
oleorpr
ojec
tandNOTf
orwhet
hers
omet
hingi
sa
good
car
eerdec
isi
on.

MOLL
YGRAHAM
VPofOper
ati
onsatt
heChanZucker
ber
gIni
ti
ati
ve

Joi
nahighqualit
ycompanywi
thagr
eatmanager
,and
f
ocusonthatabover
oleandt
it
le.

BYRONDEETER

Mol
lyal
sos
har
edherdeni
ngc
areermoment
satc
ompani
esbi
gands
mal
l:
Dec
idi
ngt
oleav
eGoogl
eandgot
oFac
ebookwasv
erydeni
ti
vef
orme
m. I
hadanumberofopt
ionsat
Googl
ethats
oundedv
eryi
mpr
ess
ive,
andatt
het
ime,
Fac
ebookwasv
erymuc
hnotas
urebet
.In2008,
mos
tpeopl
ethoughtFac
ebookwasj
ustas
it
eforc
oll
egeki
dsort
hati
twasgoi
ngt
obeboughtbyMi
cros
oft
(
funnynow,
butr
eal
)
.Ev
enI
didn'
tful
l
yunder
standwhatFac
ebookwasdoi
ngi
nthewor
ldwhenI
wasoer
ed
aj
obt
her
e,andI
wasc
onf
usedaboutt
hedec
isi
onf
ormanyr
eas
ons
.Someones
aidt
ome,
Youhav
ethe
ans
weri
nsi
dey
ou,
youj
usthav
etol
i
stenf
ori
t.
Mygutj
usts
aid,
Iwantt
ogowor
kwi
thEl
l
iotSc
hrageand
Sher
ylSandber
gatFac
ebook.
(El
l
iotwasmymanageratGoogl
eandSher
ylwasament
or.
)Theans
werwas
s
uddenl
yver
ycl
earand1
00%aboutt
hepeopl
e.Thatadv
icet
owai
tfort
hemomentwheny
ourgutory
our
hear
tmakesi
ts
elfv
eryc
lear
abouthar
ddec
isi
onshass
erv
edmev
erywel
lthr
oughev
erys
ingl
ecompl
i
cat
-
ed,
emot
ional
dec
isi
onI
hav
emades
inc
e.I
ttaughtmet
haty
ous
houl
dal
way
sfol
l
owwonder
ful
peopl
ethat
y
ouwantt
olear
nfr
om.

MOLL
YGRAHAM
VPofOper
ati
onsatt
heChanZucker
ber
gIni
ti
ati
ve

33
Dus
tinMos
kovi
tzonhowheper
sonal
lygr
ewatFac
ebooki
ntheear
lydays
:
I
knewmor
eorl
essnot
hingatt
hebegi
nni
ng.
ThoughI
wasgener
all
ypr
oc
ientwi
thc
omput
ers
,Iwas
n't
r
eal
l
yapr
ogr
ammerandl
i
ter
all
ytooki
ntr
otoc
omput
ers
cienc
e(CS50)t
hes
emes
terbef
orewes
tar
ted
Fac
ebook.
Mos
tl
yIl
ear
nedbyr
eadi
ngMar
k'sc
ode,
tri
alander
ror
,andbys
ear
chi
ngf
orans
wer
stoques
-
t
ionst
hatwer
ecomi
ngupf
orme.
Ial
sol
ear
nedf
rom t
hemor
eex
per
ienc
edpeopl
ewhoj
oinedFac
ebooki
n
t
heear
lyday
s,es
pec
ial
l
yMat
tCohl
erandJ
eRot
hsc
hil
d,aswel
lasf
rom di
rec
tex
per
ienc
eov
ert
ime.
I
of
tens
ayt
hatnewmanager
sshoul
dn'
tas
sumet
heyc
anl
ear
nther
elev
ants
kil
l
sint
hes
amewayt
heyhav
e
ac
qui
redt
echni
cal
ski
l
ls(
e.g.
byr
eadi
ngandt
rai
ning)
.I
treal
l
ytakesex
per
ienc
e.

DUSTI
NMOSKOVI
TZ
Co-
founderofAs
anaandFacebook

34
 CHAPTER 6

TheArtof
Networki
ng
Ahhh,theartofnetworki
ng.Mos tofusknowt hatconnect
ingwi
thothertal
ented
peoplebothinandoutofouri ndustr
yisoneoft hekeystocar
eersuc c
ess.Sti
ll
,to
many,networki
ngfeelslabori
ousatbes tanddisi
ngenuousatworst
.Luckil
y,we
gotsomeadv ic
efrom greatnetworkersonhowt obuildmeani
ngfulconnect
ionsin
agenuineway evenify ou
reanintr
ov er
t.
35
 Phot
obyGet
tyI
mages

Howt
obui
ldanet
wor
kasaf
ounder
:
Thebes
twayt
oeec
tiv
elybui
l
danet
wor
kist
ohav
eapr
oduc
tthati
satl
eas
tsome-
whati
nter
est
ing.
Tous
eBr
ianChes
ky
sex
ampl
e,hedi
dn'
thav
erunawaygr
owt
h,buthe
hadac
tual
l
ybui
l
tapr
oduc
tandhadaf
ewus
erswhi
chwasenoughf
ors
omepeopl
eto
bewi
l
li
ngt
omeetwi
thandhel
phi
m.Mos
tpeopl
elooki
ngt
onet
wor
khav
ejus
tan
i
dea,
sot
hisal
onewi
l
lmakey
ous
tandout
.

SAM ALTMAN
Pr
esi
dentofYCombi
nat
or

36
Howt
obui
ldanet
wor
katyourc
ompanyi
fyou
reani
ntr
over
t:
Fi
rsto,
Iwoul
dlookf
orway
stos
howc
asey
ourex
per
ti
sewhet
hert
hroughi
nter
nal
companybl
ogs
,smal
l
s
peaki
ngr
olesatac
ompanyc
onf
erenc
e,et
c.Sec
ond,
ify
ouhav
eex
per
ti
set
haty
ourc
oll
eaguesc
oul
dben-
etf
rom,
shar
eit
!Sendt
hem emai
l
swi
thi
nfor
mat
iont
heyc
anl
ear
nfr
om orus
e.Andnal
l
y,I
woul
dsugges
t
maki
ngal
i
stofs
omeofy
ourac
compl
i
shment
stodat
e.Ev
eni
fyounev
ers
har
ethel
i
stwi
thany
one,
itwi
l
l
hel
pcent
ery
ouemot
ional
l
yar
oundt
hev
aluey
oubr
ing.
Onc
eyou'
vedonet
hat
,though,
itac
tual
l
ywi
l
lbe
eas
iert
oshar
ethi
sinf
ormat
ionwi
thot
her
s.Forex
ampl
e,y
oumi
ghtas
kforas
itdownmeet
ingwi
thabos
s
orment
ort
odi
scus
syourc
areergoal
s,t
oshar
eyourac
compl
i
shment
stodat
e,andt
oas
kfort
hei
radv
ice
onhowt
oreac
hyourgoal
s.

SUSANCAI
N
Aut
horofQui
et,TEDSpeaker

Fors
ome,bui
ldi
nganet
wor
kmaynotbet
hati
mpor
tant
:
I
thi
nkt
hev
alueofanet
wor
k,whi
l
eimpor
tant
,isdec
reas
ingev
eryy
ear
.Att
hes
amet
ime,
thev
alueofbei
ng
ex
cel
l
entatwhaty
oudohasgr
own.
Int
oday
swor
ld,
ify
ouknows
omet
hingr
eal
l
ycompel
l
ing,
youwi
l
lbe
s
oughtout
..
.
ands
oughtoutdi
rec
tly
.IfI
wast
oadv
ises
omeone,
Iwoul
dtel
lthem t
ospendl
esst
imedev
elop-
i
ngt
hei
rpr
ofes
sional
net
wor
k.

AURENHOFFMAN
CEO ofSaf
eGr
aph

Thebestwayt
oeect
ivel
ybuil
danetworkist
ohav
e
apr
oduc
tthati
satl
eas
ts omewhati
nter
est
ing.

SAM AL
TMAN

37
 CHAPTER 7

Fi
ndi
ngGreat
Ment
ors
Wevefoundthatsuccessf
ulentr
epreneursandthoughtl
eaderstendtohav e
greatmentor
s.Thebi gquest
ionis:Howdoy oundament orintherstplac
e?
Andhowdoy ousur r
oundyoursel
fwithgreatpeopl
ethatyoucanlearnfrom as
yougrow?Belowy oull
ndaf ewti
dbitsofadvi
ceonment or
shipfrom s
ev er
alof
theProductHuntLIVEChatgues t
s.
38
 Howt
opr
oces
scar
eeradvi
ce:
Bev
eryawar
eofanadv
icegi
ver
'
sbi
ases
.Ev
eni
fthey
'res
upers
mar
tands
uper
s
ucc
ess
ful
,whatmi
ghtbemot
ivat
ingt
hem t
osaywhatt
hey
'res
ayi
ngt
oyou?Ofc
our
se,
t
hemos
tcommonbi
asi
stheyl
ackmot
ivat
ionorempat
hyt
ounder
standy
ou,
ands
o
t
heyendupgi
vi
ngadv
icet
oay
oungerv
ers
ionoft
hems
elv
es.
Als
o,I

dgener
all
yav
oid
as
kingf
oradv
icedi
rec
tly
.Ins
tead,
wat
chpeopl
e
sac
tions
.Readbet
weent
hel
i
nesof
whatt
heys
ayonr
elat
edt
opi
cs.

BEN CASNOCHA
Aut
horofTheAl
li
ance

39
Youdon
thavet
ogi
veyourment
orsaf
ormalt
it
le:
Thebes
tment
orsI
hav
eev
erhaddi
dn'
tev
enknowt
heywer
emyment
ors
!Iwass
impl
ygui
dedbys
eei
ng
t
hei
rbehav
iort
hatmademet
hink,
That
'
showI
shoul
dbeac
ting.

ANDYWEI
SSMAN
Par
tneratUni
onSquar
eVent
ures

Haveaper
sonal
boar
dofdi
rec
tor
s:
I
don'
thav
eones
pec
icment
or,
butr
ather
,agr
oupofpeopl
ethatI
knowI
cangot
owi
thques
ti
onsandas
k
f
oradv
icedependi
ngonwhat
'
sgoi
ngoni
nmyl
i
fe.
Somepeopl
ecal
li
ta
per
sonal
boar
dofdi
rec
tor
s,
andI
t
hinkev
ery
ones
houl
dhav
eone.

ADAM BESVI
NICK
VCatAnchor
ageCapi
talGr
oup

Avoi
das
kingf
oradv
icedi
rec
tly
.Ins
tead,
wat
ch
peopl
e
sac
tions
.
BENCASNOCHA

Fi
ndment
orswi
thdi
sti
nctper
spec
tives
:
Hav
ingment
orswi
thdi
st
inc
tper
spec
tiv
eshasbeenr
eal
l
yhel
pful
.Mat
tCohl
erwasanamaz
ingment
orf
or
usaswes
cal
edt
hec
ompany
,si
ncehebr
oughtt
heper
spec
tiv
eofs
eei
ngmul
ti
plec
ompani
esgot
hrough
hy
per
growt
h.Onengi
neer
ing,
Iwasf
ort
unat
etohav
ewor
kedf
ors
omegr
eatengi
neer
ingl
eader
sli
keEl
aine
Wher
ryatMeeboandDav
eLof
tes
nes
satXmar
ks,
whot
aughtmehowt
obal
anc
ebui
l
dingt
her
ightt
hing,
wi
thbui
l
dingt
hingst
he"
ri
ght
"way
.

MI
KEKRI
EGER
Co-
founderofI
nst
agr
am

40
 Phot
ocour
tes
yofRami
tSet
hi

Lear
nfr
om anyoneandbet
hought
fulaboutwhoyous
urr
ound
your
sel
fwi
th:
Mybel
i
efi
syoucanl
ear
nfr
om anyone.Thi
siswhyIs
ti
ll
buybooksandcour
sesf
rom peopl
ewhos
ebus
i-
nes
sesar
eaf
ract
ionoft
hes
izeofour
s,aswel
lasl
ear
ningf
rom booksi
ndi
er
entar
eas(
e.g.r
eadi
nga
bookbyMi
chael
Jor
dan'
sfor
mert
rai
ner
).But
,Idot
hinkpeopl
eatt
het
opoft
hei
rgamecant
eachyout
hings
t
hatot
her
scannot
.Somet
imes
,it
'
sar
andom phr
aset
hey'
l
lsay
Wat
choutf
orX
whi
cht
urnsoutt
ohave
ami
l
li
on-
dol
l
ari
mpactonyourbus
ines
s.That
'
shappenedt
omewi
thoneofmyment
ors
.

Ial
sot
hinkmor
eofuss
houl
dlear
nfr
om uncomf
ort
abl
esour
ces
.I'
vehear
dpeopl
esay
,Ohmygos
h,you
r
eadt
hats
it
e?Whet
heri
t'
sFoxNews
,Jez
ebel
,what
ever
.
..
ifyoual
l
owyour
sel
ftoonl
yex
isti
nanecho
chamber
,howcanyoubet
hebes
t?

Fi
nal
l
y,i
nter
msof[
thepeopl
eIs
urr
oundmys
elfwi
th]
,It
hinkaf
ewt
hings
:
I
nbus
ines
s,I
'
m ver
ycar
eful
aboutwhoIhangoutwi
th.It
hinkt
hisi
scr
it
ical
:I
fyouhangoutwi
thpeopl
e
whoar
ehappyt
ocr
eat
esubs
tandar
dpr
oduct
s,t
hatwi
l
lrubo.J
ustasi
fyoul
i
vei
nNYCorSForNew
Or
leans
,cer
tai
nval
ueswi
l
lruboonyou.Acknowl
edgei
t,andpl
anf
ori
t.

Themor
esucces
sful
youget
,themor sopenup.WhenIs
edoor tar
ted,Iwant
edt
oknowwhot
he
wor
ld'
sbes
tcopywr
it
erswer
e.Thei
rnameswer
en'
tevenpubl
i
c.Nowt
hatI
'
vegr
ownmybus
ines
s,I
'
ve
l
ear
nedmor
eaboutt
hepeopl
eandl
ess
onst
hatar
en'
tshar
edpubl
i
cly
.Butt
hatt
akest
ime.Andt
her
eis
al
waysanot
herl
evel
don'
tl
eti
tdr
iveyoucr
azy
.Ther
esnot
hingwor
set
hanas
oci
alcl
i
mber
!

So,over
all
:Ibel
i
evewecanl
ear
nfr
om ever
yone.It
ryt
oopenmyl
ear
ningci
rcl
e.ButI
'
m al
sover
ycar
eful
of
whoIs
urr
oundmys
elfwi
thbecaus
eval
ues
cons
cious
lyoruncons
cious
lyr
ubo.

RAMI
TSETHI
Aut
horofIWi
l
lTeachYout
oBeRi
ch
41
 CHAPTER 8

OnGett
ing
Hi
red
Nomat terwhatst
agey oureatprofes
sionall
ywhetherf r
eshoutofc ol
l
ege, ora
seasonedprofessi
onallookingt
opr ogressinanindus t
ryorpurs
ueadi erent
careerguri
ngouthowt ondyournex tbigopportunit
yisoft
enac hall
enge.
Overthepas tf
ewy ear
s ,anumberofent repreneur
s,leaders,
andmanager shav e
sharedthei
rthoughtswiththeProductHuntc ommuni tyaboutbreaki
ngintoanew
i
ndus t
ryandgetti
nghiredf oradream j
ob. Hereares omeofthemos til
l
umi nat
ing
r
es ponses:
42
 Phot
obyFr
anc
esF.
Denny

Br
eakthec
ycleofneedi
ngexperi
encetogetaj
ob,
andneedi
ngaj obtogai
nexperi
ence:
I
nter
msofgai
ningex
per
ienc
e,oneoft
hebes
tthi
ngsy
ouc
andoi
sndas
tar
tupor
nonpr
ott
owor
kforpar
t-
ti
mei
nyourar
eaofdes
iredex
per
ti
se.
Thi
shel
psy
ougai
na
f
oot
hol
dandgi
vesy
ous
omet
hingt
otal
kaboutt
ofut
ureempl
oyer
s.Forex
ampl
e,a
f
ri
endofmi
nedi
dsoc
ial
medi
aforas
tar
tupf
ort
hreemont
hsonni
ght
sandweekends
whens
hewast
ryi
ngt
omakeaj
umpi
ntoaf
ull
-t
imes
oci
almedi
arol
e.Shewasr
ecr
uit
ed
f
orherdr
eam pos
it
ions
hor
tl
yther
eaf
ter
.

KATHRYN MI
NSHEW
FounderofTheMuse
43
Fol
lowyouri
nter
est
sandhel
pever
ygoodper
sonyoumeet
:
I
fyou'
rebr
eaki
ngi
ntoanewi
ndus
try
,jus
tfol
l
owy
ouri
nter
est
sandhel
pev
erygoodper
sony
oumeet
.AndI
don'
tj
ustmeanf
oll
ow-
upandhel
pI
meangoabov
eandbey
ondwhatt
heywoul
dhav
eex
pec
ted.
Thatr
e-
qui
resdi
l
igenc
e,l
i
steni
ng,
doi
ngwhaty
ous
ayy
ou'
regoi
ngt
odo,
etc
.Ital
sot
akest
ime.
Alotofpeopl
e
c
omeupt
omeatev
ent
sandas
khowt
obr
eaki
ntoanewi
ndus
try
,andI
usual
l
yret
ortwi
th,
Puty
our
headdownf
orv
eyear
sandt
henl
ookup.

SEMI
LSHAH
Par
tneratHays
tack

Don
trel
yonyourr
esumeal
onet
ogetyoui
nthedoor
:
T
echhi
ri
ngi
sbui
l
tar
oundr
elat
ions
hipsandnet
wor
king.
Forac
andi
dat
e,i
t'
simpor
tantt
obui
l
drel
ati
ons
hips
wi
thpeopl
eatt
hec
ompani
esy
ou'
rel
ooki
ngt
owor
kfor
.Got
onet
wor
kingev
ent
s,andt
akepar
tinonl
i
ne
gr
oups
.Don'
trel
yony
ourr
esumeal
onet
ogety
oui
nthedoor
.

MELI
NDAEPLER
FounderofChangeCat
alys
t

Fol
l
owyouri
nter
est
sandhel
pev
erygoodper
son
y
oumeet
.

SEMI
LSHAH

Don
twai
tfors
omeoneel
set
omakeyourc
areerhappen:
Twot
hought
s:1
)Fi
ndawayt
ogetex
pos
uret
othos
eint
hei
ndus
try
,and2)hav
esomet
hingt
ooer
.Get
ti
ng
ex
pos
urec
oul
dmeans
howi
ngupt
omeet
-ups
,get
ti
ngi
ntr
oduc
edbyf
ri
endsandf
ami
l
y,orev
enc
ont
ri
but
ing
t
oopens
our
cepr
ojec
tst
hatar
evi
si
ble.
Then,
oers
omet
hingv
aluabl
e.Y
ouc
angetc
odeuponGi
tHubi
f
y
ou
reac
oder
,mai
ntai
nanac
tiv
esoc
ial
medi
aac
countorbl
ogi
fyou
rei
nter
est
edi
nmar
ket
ing,
etc
.Abov
e
al
lel
se,
bepas
sionat
eanddon
twai
tfors
omeoneel
set
omakey
ourc
areerhappen.
Thos
eday
s,i
ftheyev
er
ex
ist
ed,
arel
onggonenow.

BLAKEI
RVI
NG
CEO ofGoDaddy

44
Pl
aywher
eot
herpeopl
ear
en
t:
Pl
aywher
eot
herpeopl
ear
en'
t
,whet
herasac
ompanyorasani
ndi
vi
dual
.Whenwes
eeanoppor
tuni
tyf
ull
y
s
copedout
,wewantt
ogof
ori
t.I
tseemsmor
ecer
tai
ntous
.Butt
hebet
teroppor
tuni
tyi
stheonet
hati
n-
v
olv
espl
ayi
ngwher
epeopl
edon'
twantt
opl
ayorhav
en'
tthoughtofpl
ayi
ng.
Thec
hoi
cemaypr
ovi
del
ess
c
ert
aint
y,buti
tisul
ti
mat
elyl
essr
isky
.

WHI
TNEYJ
OHNSON
Aut
horofDi
sruptYour
sel
f

Abov
eallel
se,
bepass
ionat
eanddontwaitf
or
s
omeoneels
etomakeyourcar
eerhappen.

BLAKEI
RVI
NG

Dos
omet
hingr
emar
kabl
eanddi
er
entt
ogetanempl
oyer
sat
tent
ion:
Dos
omet
hingawes
omes
omet
hingr
emar
kabl
eands
endi
ttous
.Thi
swi
l
lgetourat
tent
ion,
andi
tshows
pas
sionandc
ommi
tment
.ForCoi
nbas
e,i
tcoul
dbeanopens
our
cepr
ojec
t,abugbount
ysubmi
ssi
on,
a
s
ong,
what
ever
bec
reat
ive.
Onec
andi
dat
esubmi
tt
edac
overl
ett
eri
nthet
hemeofSat
oshi
'
sor
igi
nal
bit
coi
n
paper
;iti
ncl
udedc
itat
ions
,andac
ons
ens
usmec
hani
smf
orempl
oyeesandmanager
swor
kingt
oget
her
.

BRI
ANARMSTRONG
Co-
founderofCoi
nbas
e

At
tendt
echc
onf
erenc
esandi
ndus
tryevent
s:
Fi
ndt
hos
ewhohav
eas
imi
l
arpas
sionandpur
pos
eands
tar
tfol
l
owi
ngands
tudy
ingwhatt
heydot
obes
uc-
c
ess
ful
.Att
hes
amet
ime,
it'
simpor
tantt
oinv
esti
nyourper
sonal
brandbyt
ell
i
ngy
ours
tor
yandbei
ngc
ons
is-
t
entac
ros
sal
lsoc
ial
channel
s.Ther
eisal
soamas
siv
eamountofv
aluei
nat
tendi
ngev
ent
sli
keDi
srupt
,
SXSW,
CES,
andAWSRel
evantwi
thas
trat
egi
cnet
wor
kingandl
ear
ningappr
oac
h.Somanyc
onnec
tionsy
ou
makeear
lyonwi
l
lbeofgr
eatv
alueasy
ourc
areergr
ows
.Mos
toft
hec
li
ent
sands
peaki
ngoppor
tuni
ti
est
hat
I
hav
etodayc
omef
rom peopl
eIbui
l
trel
ati
ons
hipswi
th4-
7year
sagowhi
l
ewor
kingatahel
pdes
kandt
hen
asat
rai
ningmanager
.

BRI
ANFANZO
Founderofi
Soci
alFanz
45
 CHAPTER 9

OnHi
ri
ng
I
fyour
eont heot hersi
deoftheequati
onandlooki
ngt
ohi r
egreatpeopl
e,
s
everalincr
edibleleaderss
harethei
radvi
cefr
om Twi
tt
erandSquareCEO
J
ackDor seytoWor dPr
essfounderMat
tMull
enweg.Hi
nt:Thi
sadvi
ceisal
so
i
ncredi
blyvaluableforj
obseekers.
46
 Phot
obyDanMoni
ck,
Cor
bisOut
li
ne

Themos
timpor
tantt
hingst
olookf
ori
npot
ent
ialhi
res
:
I
lookf
orpas
sion.
It
stheonl
ythi
ngt
hatc
an'
tbet
aught
.WhySquar
e?WhyTwi
tt
er?I
fI
hearpas
sionf
ort
hepur
pos
eint
heans
wer
,thenI
lookf
orl
eader
shi
pands
kil
l
.Pas
sion
andpur
pos
eandpr
inc
ipl
esr
st,
though!

JACK DORSEY
Co-
founderofTwi
tt
erandSquar
e

47
TheMos
tImpor
tantThi
ngst
oLookf
ori
nPot
ent
ialHi
res
:

I
treal
l
ydependsont
hej
ob.
Butt
her
esear
chont
hiss
ugges
tsaf
ewat
tr
ibut
es:
1
.Cons
cient
ious
nes
s
2.
Gener
alc
ogni
ti
ves
kil
l
s(i
.
e.bas
ics
mar
ts)
3.
Cul
tur
alt
.Somepeopl
emi
ghtdogr
eatatI
BM butt
err
ibl
yatFac
ebook;
other
scoul
dbet
heex
act
oppos
it
e.

DANI
ELPI
NK
Aut
horofDr
iveandAWhol
eNew Mi
nd

I
'
m as
uckerf
orcompet
ence.I
t'
snott
heonl
ythi
ngt
hatmat
ter
s,butwor
kingwi
ths
omeonewho'
sreal
l
ygood
atwhatt
heydoi
sinvi
gor
ati
ng.Nex
tbes
tthi
ngi
stohaveanapt
it
udef
orl
ear
ning.Theonl
yfor
m oft
eachi
ng
t
hatIr
eal
l
yenj
oyi
stheki
ndwher
eIhavet
osayt
hingsonl
yonce,oratt
hemos
t,af
ewt
imes
.Peopl
ewho
ar
egr
eatl
i
stener
sandeagert
olear
ncanbe(
almos
t)asr
ewar
dingt
owor
kwi
th.Bot
tom l
i
ne:Begoodat
whatyoudoorbegoodatbecomi
nggoodatwhatyoudo.

DAVI
DHEI
NEMEI
ER-
HANSSON
Cr
eat
orofRubyonRai
l
s,Co-
founderofBasecamp
48
Fi
rst
,doi
nter
est
ingt
hingsandl
ear
nal
ot.
Itdoes
n'tmat
terwher
eyouwentt
osc
hool
(ordi
dn'
t
),ori
fyou'
ve
beeni
nthes
amej
obf
oradec
adebutwhathav
eyoudoneabov
eandbey
ondt
hat
?Per
sonal
proj
ect
s,
c
ommuni
tys
erv
ice,
vol
unt
eerwor
k,educ
ati
onhi
ghl
i
ghtt
hingst
hatdemons
trat
eyourpas
sion,
creat
ivi
ty
,
at
tent
iont
odet
ail
,andwor
ket
hic
.

Sec
ond,
doesy
ourj
obappl
i
cat
iont
ell
thats
tor
y?Thi
nkabouthowi
tst
andsout
,andhowy
ouc
andemon-
s
trat
eal
loft
heabov
enotj
usti
nwhaty
ous
har
eabouty
our
sel
f
,butal
sohowy
ouappl
yfort
hej
ob.
Ipr
imar
i-
l
ylookf
ori
sthef
ourqual
i
ti
esy
ouc
an
tteac
h:wor
ket
hic
,tas
te,
int
egr
it
y,andc
uri
osi
ty
.

MATTMULLENWEG
Co-
founderofWor
dPr
ess

Ilookf
orpas
sion.
It
stheonl
ythi
ngt
hatc
an'
tbe
t
aught.

J
ACKDORSEY

49
 CHAPTER 10

Changing
CareerPat
hs
So,you
vegotsomewor kexperienc eundery ourbelt..
.butyou
rereali
zingthat
i
tst
imetochangec areerpat hs.Alotofpeopl egets tuckhere.Howdoy oumake
thel
eapintosomethingnewwi t
houts tar
ti
ngal loveragain?Howc any ougety our
f
ootinthedoorinac ompl etelydierentindustry?Doy ouhav ewhatittakesto
succeedatsomethi
ngt otall
ynew?I fyouveev erconsideredshi
ft
ingyourc areer
,
youarecert
ainl
ynotal one.Her eares omet hought sonhowy oucannav igat
e
yourwayint
oanewandex cit
ingprofes s
ionalpath:
50
Phot
obyJ
li
aSol
er

Ar
esi
depr
ojec
tsagoodi
dea
?
Li
kemos
tfr
ust
rat
ingans
wer
s,I
'
lls
ay:
Itdepends
.Inani
deal
wor
ld,
wor
ki
sal
way
s
r
oundi
ngouty
ouri
nter
est
s/f
asc
inat
ionsandt
het
hingsy
ouwi
sht
olear
nandpr
act
ice.
Wheny
ourj
obi
sdoi
ngal
lthes
ethi
ngs
,immer
sey
our
sel
fcompl
etel
y.I
fyourwor
kis
doi
ngs
omeoft
hes
ethi
ngs
,taket
hei
nit
iat
ivet
oroundouty
oureduc
ati
onandex
per
i-
enc
ewi
thr
elev
ants
idepr
ojec
ts.
Ult
imat
ely
,doi
ngs
oisgr
eatf
ory
ourempl
oyer(
you'
l
l
s
ti
ckar
ound)
,andgr
eatf
ory
ou(
youc
ont
inuet
odev
elopy
ouri
nter
est
sandex
per
ienc
e
i
nthi
ngst
hatf
asc
inat
eyou)
.

Butal
way
sbehones
twi
thy
our
sel
f
.Whati
syourc
apac
ityt
ocompar
tment
ali
zeand
mul
ti
-t
ask?Mos
tpeopl
ethr
iveonas
ingl
etr
ack.
Bes
uret
opr
oceedc
aut
ious
lybec
aus
e
i
fyou'
renotper
for
mingatt
het
opofy
ourgame,
door
scl
osequi
ckl
y.

SCOTT BELSKY
FounderofBehance,I
nvest
or
51
Howdoyous
tayc
reat
ivewhi
lewor
kingar
out
ineoc
ejob?
I
t'
simpor
tantt
ohav
eanes
capepl
an.
Lit
eral
l
ythi
nkofi
tasi
fyouwer
epl
anni
ngt
oes
capef
rom pr
ison.
Giv
e
y
our
sel
fay
earort
wo,
max
imum.
Knowi
ngt
hiswi
l
lli
fty
ours
pir
it
s.Dec
idewher
eyournex
tmov
ewi
l
lbe,
mor
eorl
ess
.Int
heev
eni
ng,
ify
ouar
enott
oobur
ntout
,youhav
etos
pends
omet
imer
esear
chi
ngnewav
e-
nues
,anddev
elopi
ngs
omeot
hers
kil
l
s.Per
hapsgobac
ktos
chool
int
heev
eni
ng.
Ori
fyouhav
eas
tar
tup
i
dea,
dev
oteonehouranev
eni
ngt
oit
.

ROBERTGREENE
Aut
horofThe48LawsofPowerandMas
ter
y

Whats
houl
dagener
ali
stdot
oadvanc
ehi
sorherc
areer
?
I
fyou'
renotc
omf
ort
abl
ewi
tht
hei
deaofc
hoos
ingas
ingl
ethi
ngt
oex
cel
at,
cons
ideri
nst
eads
elec
tinga
uni
quec
oll
ect
ionofs
kil
l
sthatar
erar
einc
ombi
nat
ionandhav
esomehi
ghv
aluear
easofappl
i
cat
ion.

CALNEWPORT
Aut
horofDeepWor
kandSoGoodTheyCan
tIgnor
eYou

It
'si
mpor
tantt
ohav
eanes
capepl
an.
Giv
eyour
sel
fa
y
earort
wo,
max
imum.

ROBERTGREENE

Howwoul
dyoudet
ermi
newhet
heryou'
reont
her
ightorwr
ongc
areer
pat
h?
I
knowt
hisdoes
n'ts
oundhel
pful
,butt
hisi
stheadv
iceTi
m Cookgav
eAppl
eint
ernswhenI
wast
her
e:t
he
bi
ggert
hedec
isi
on,
themor
eyouhav
etot
rus
tyourgut
.Youknowi
fyou'
reont
her
ightorwr
ongpat
hfor
r
eas
onsnotev
eny
ouunder
stand.

BENTHOMPSON
FounderofSt
rat
echer
y

52
Whatadvic
ewouldyougi
vet
oac
oll
egegr
aduat
ewhot
ookaj
obheors
he
di
dn'
tactuall
ywant
?
I
thappenst
oal
lofus
.You'
renots
tuc
k,t
her
e'sawayout
.Thatpr
oces
sis
:

1
.Showc
ase
2.
Tar
get
3.
Audi
t
4.
Gif
t
5.
Exec
ute
6.
Sel
l

Showwhaty
ouc
andoi
nanonl
i
nepor
tf
oli
o.T
argetonec
ompanyy
ouwantt
owor
kfor
.Doanaudi
toft
hei
r
bus
ines
stoas
ses
sar
easwher
eyouc
anhel
p.Gi
vet
hem agi
ft(
whet
heri
t'
sfr
eewor
kors
omet
hingt
angi
ble
t
hatc
anhel
pthem)
.Wheny
ou'
rehi
red,
dot
hej
obgets
h*tdone!
Thennal
l
y,s
ell
:tr
ans
it
iont
oapai
drol
e.

CHARLI
EHOEHN
Aut
horofPl
ayI
tAway

Thebiggert
hedec
isi
on,
themor
eyouhav
etot
rus
t
y
ourgut.

BENTHOMPSON

Whatadvi
cewoul
dyougi
vet
othos
edec
idi
ngwhatt
odonexti
nthei
r
car
eer
s?
Whenev
erI
hav
ethoughtaboutwher
eIwor
kandwher
eel
seI
coul
dwor
k,I

veal
way
sas
kedmy
sel
f
,What
pr
oduc
tdoI
lov
etodayt
hatI
thi
nks
houl
dbemuc
hmuc
hbi
ggerandus
edbymanymor
epeopl
eint
he
wor
ld?
"Ift
hepr
oduc
tIwaswor
kingonwas
n'ti
nthet
op5,
I'
dthi
nkaboutt
ryi
ngt
ogowor
konapr
oduc
tthat
di
dti
ntot
hatl
i
stf
orme.
It'
sreal
l
yimpor
tantt
ochoos
esomet
hingy
oul
egi
ti
mat
elyl
oveandbel
i
evec
anbe
al
otbi
ggerandmor
eimpor
tanti
nthewor
ld.
Ify
ouc
onv
inc
eyour
sel
ftowor
ksomewher
ebec
aus
eyout
hink
i
tcanpayy
oual
otofmoney
,youwon'
tbeashappywor
kingoni
t,andy
ouwon'
tgot
osl
eeporwakeup
t
hinki
ngabouthowy
ouc
anmaket
hepr
oduc
tbet
ternear
lyasof
ten.

J
OSHELMAN
Par
tneratGr
eyl
ock

53
 CHAPTER 11

HowtoBecome
Suc
cess
ful
Moneyi safrequentl
yusedbenc hmar kforsuccess,butyougettodenewhat
successlookslikei
nyourlif
e.Manyoft hePr oductHuntLIVEChatgues t
spointed
outothermeas urest
hatthey'
veus edov erthecourseoftheircar
eersfr
om
enj
oy i
ngwhatt heydoandget ti
ngt ospendt imewithlovedones,topract
ici
ng
humili
tyandempower ingothers
. Yougett odecidewhat
simport
anti
ny ourli
fe.
Hereshowhal fadozenpeoplec arvedtheirownuni quel
ys uc
cessf
ulpaths.
54
Phot
ocour
tes
yofGar
yVay
ner
chuk

Under
standt
hat99%oft
hingsdon
tmat
ter
:
Foc
usonbi
gpi
ctur
ethi
ngs
:pat
ienc
e,empower
ingot
her
s,under
standi
ngt
hat99%of
t
hingsdon'
tmat
ter
,dev
elopi
ngbus
ines
sdev
elopmentc
hopst
ocr
eat
elev
erage.

GARY VAYNERCHUK
CEO ofVayner
Medi
a,I
nvest
or,Aut
hor

55
Fi
gur
eoutwhatyou
regoodatandgi
vei
tawayf
orf
ree:
Fi
gur
eoutwhaty
ou'
regoodatands
tar
thel
pingot
herpeopl
ewi
thi
tgi
vei
taway
.Payi
tfor
war
d.Kar
ma
wor
ksbec
aus
epeopl
ear
ever
ycons
ist
ent
.Onal
ongenought
imes
cal
e,y
ouwi
l
lat
tr
actwhaty
oupr
ojec
t.
Butdon'
tmeas
ure;
yourpat
ienc
ewi
l
lrunouti
fyouar
ecount
ing.

NAVALRAVI
KANT
Co-
founderofAngel
Lis
t

Havef
undoi
ngyourwor
k:
Suc
ces
sformei
fbei
ngabl
etohav
efunatmyj
ob,
andmaki
ngc
ont
entt
hatpeopl
eenj
oy.
IfI
enc
our
aged
anot
herwomant
omakeherc
areeri
ntec
hormedi
a,I
'
dbehappy
.

VERONI
CABELMONT
Pr
oductManageratGr
owbot

Under
standt
hat99%oft
hingsdon'
tmat
ter
.

GARYVAYNERCHUK

Li
veandbr
eat
heyouri
ndus
try:
I
trul
ybel
i
evet
hatt
oex
cel
inas
pec
ici
ndus
tryi
fyouar
eac
reat
ive,
youneedt
oli
veandbr
eat
het
hei
ndus
-
t
ry.
Forex
ampl
e,t
hebes
tfoodphot
ogr
apher
sspendal
otoft
hei
rti
mei
nter
act
ingwi
thandmaki
ngf
ri
endsi
n
t
hef
oodi
ndus
try
.Is
penty
ear
sint
echbui
l
dingmynet
wor
kandhav
ingagenui
nei
nter
esti
npeopl
e,andI
s
ti
ll
spendac
ons
ider
abl
eamountoft
imei
nter
act
ingwi
thpeopl
ethet
echi
ndus
tryt
oday
.Rel
ati
ons
hipsar
e
j
ustasi
mpor
tantt
omybus
ines
sast
hephot
ost
hems
elv
es.

HELENAPRI
CE
Phot
ogr
apher

56
Pl
ayt
oyourdi
sti
nct
ives
trengt
hs:
I
t'
sahumani
mper
ati
vet
omov
efor
war
d.Onc
eyoumas
tery
ourc
urr
entl
ear
ningc
urv
e,y
ouneedt
ojump
agai
n.Y
oumov
ethr
oughy
ourl
ear
ningc
urv
emor
equi
ckl
ywheny
out
aket
her
ightr
isks
,pl
ayt
oyourdi
st
inc
-
t
ives
trengt
hs,
embr
acec
ons
trai
nts
,bat
tl
eent
it
lement
,andar
edr
ivenbydi
scov
ery
.

WHI
TNEYJ
OHNSON
Aut
horofDi
sruptYour
sel
f

Maket
hos
ewhobel
ievei
nyoul
ookbr
il
li
ant
:
Fi
rst
,mydeni
ti
onofs
ucc
ess
:Suc
ces
sismaki
ngt
hos
ewhobel
i
evedi
nyoul
ookbr
il
li
ant
.
Sobas
edon
t
hat
,I'
dsayt
hatt
he#1mos
tcommont
rai
tamongt
hos
ewhoar
esuc
ces
sful
ishumi
l
it
y.

DHARMESHSHAH
Co-
founderofHubSpot

Figur
eoutwhaty
ou'
regoodatands
tar
thel
pingot
her
peopl
ewi
thi
tgi
vei
taway
.
NAVALRAVI
KANT

57
 CHAPTER 12

Women
andI
ncl
usi
on
Whi l
emanys t
ri
deshavebeenmadeov erthelas
tsever
aldecadeswheni
tcomes
toincl
usi
onintheworkplace,therei
sst
il
lmuchtobeac c
omplished.
Anumberof
ProductHuntLI
VEChatgues t
ss har
edt
heirt
houghtsonwhatcanbedoneto
buil
dmor edi
verseworkplaces.
58
 Phot
obyAar
onWoj
ack

Whatdoyout
hinki
sthi
sbiggestmisc
onc
ept
ionabout
di
ver
sit
yintech?
Thatac
hiev
ingdi
ver
sit
yint
echi
sn
taboutl
ower
ingt
hebar
.I
t'
sabouti
dent
if
yi
ngandun-
l
ocki
ngt
alent
,ev
enwheni
tdoes
n'tpat
ter
nmat
chwel
lagai
nstourwoef
ull
ynon-
div
ers
e
i
ndus
tryr
ightnow.
whatt
heys
ayonr
elat
edt
opi
cs.

TRACY CHOU
Ear
lyPi
nter
estEngi
neer
,Co-
founderofPr
ojectI
ncl
ude

59
Whathavebeensomeoft
hegr
eat
estc
hal
lengesyou'
veover
comeasa
womanintech?
I
hopet
hisques
ti
onwi
l
lsoonbenol
ongerr
elev
antbec
aus
ether
ewi
l
lbes
omanys
mar
t,dr
iven,
tot
all
y
badas
swomeni
ntec
hthatt
hei
deaofpeopl
edi
scr
imi
nat
ingagai
nstt
hem woul
dbes
hoc
king.
Thats
aid,
I
'
vedeni
tel
ydeal
twi
ths
omeun-
funs
tu.
Int
eres
ti
ngl
y,t
hei
nst
anc
esI
'
veenc
ount
eredoft
otal
l
yov
ertand
awf
uls
exi
sm(
e.gs
omeonemaki
ngwi
l
dlyi
nappr
opr
iat
eandr
epeat
edphy
sic
aladv
anc
esatawor
kmeet
ing)
s
omehowwer
en'
tasf
rus
trat
ing/
demor
ali
zi
ngast
hel
i
ttl
ethi
ngs
,li
kepeopl
eal
way
sas
sumi
ngI
'
m non-
tec
hni
-
c
alandas
king,
Whoar
eyouher
ewi
th?
Ther
ear
eal
soi
nst
anc
esatev
ent
sforCEOswher
epeopl
ewi
l
l
as
sumeI

msomeoneel
se
sas
sis
tant
.Fornow,
I'
vef
oundmybes
tres
pons
etobe:

1
.Under
standi
ngi
thappenswi
thal
otofpeopl
eandi
t'
saboutt
hem,
notaboutme
2.
Tal
ki
ngabouti
twi
thal
lthef
ant
ast
icmenI
know,
whoar
eof
tens
urpr
isedt
hishappens
3.
Hav
ingac
ohor
tofbadas
swomenar
oundmet
oventaboutt
hewor
sts
tuandt
henmov
eon.

Ki
cki
ngas
sisul
ti
mat
elyt
hebes
trev
enge,
thoughi
tdoes
n'tmeanI
won'
ttal
kaboutwhatneedst
ochange
al
ongt
heway
.

KATHRYNMI
NSHEW
FounderofTheMus
e

Achi
evi
ngdi
ver
sit
yint
echi
sn
taboutl
ower
ingt
hebar
.
I
t'
sabouti
dent
if
yi
ngandunl
ocki
ngt
alent
.

TRACYCHOU

Howdoyoufeelt
heghtf
orr
aci
alequal
it
yanddi
ver
sit
yisgoi
ngi
nthe
t
echi
ndust
ry?
Wear
etr
yinghar
dtomov
etheneedl
eonr
aci
alandgenderequal
i
tyatYCombi
nat
or.
10%oft
hef
ounder
sin
t
heSpr
ing201
6bat
chwer
eBl
ackorLat
ino,
and1
0%wer
ewomen.
Thes
enumber
sneedt
oimpr
ove.
Wear
e
hopi
ngt
hatourout
reac
hpr
ogr
amsl
i
keYCOpenOc
eHour
sandYCCol
l
egeT
ourenc
our
agemor
eunder
-
r
epr
esent
edf
ounder
stoappl
y.Weal
sobel
i
evet
hatourunder
repr
esent
edal
umni
aregr
eatr
olemodel
sand
ex
ampl
esofhowYCombi
nat
orc
anhel
pal
lf
ounder
ssuc
ceed.

MI
CHAELSEI
BEL
CEO ofYCombi
nat
or

60
Whatadvi
cewoul
dyougi
vet
osomeonetryingt
obr
eaki
ntot
het
echi
n-
dus
trybutar
eoputbyt
hel
ackofdi
ver
sity?
Myadv
icei
stodot
her
esear
chandndc
ompani
est
hatdoc
areaboutdi
ver
sit
yandi
ncl
usi
on,
andhav
e
di
ver
set
eams
.Forent
repr
eneur
s,I
'
dal
sos
aydoy
ourr
esear
chandl
ear
nwhi
chi
nves
tor
sar
einv
est
ingi
n
di
ver
sec
ompani
es.

MELI
NDAEPLER
FounderofChangeCat
alys
t

Phot
obyJ
asonT
rav
is

Whatdoyous
eeast
hemai
nbar
ri
erf
orwomeni
ntech?
Icanonl
yspeakasat
ech-
indus
tryout
si
derwhohasi
nter
viewedandi
sfr
iendswi
thal
otofwomenwi
thi
nit
.
Speaki
ngbr
oadl
y,womenar
ereal
l
yint
eres
tedi
ntechnol
ogyandi
ntechj
obs
.Al
lther
esear
chonwomeni
n
STEM pr
ofes
sionsacr
osst
heboar
dsayst
hatt
heyar
e.Whatt
urnst
hem oi
stheenvi
ronmentoncet
heyget
t
her
e.Thes
o-cal
l
edpi
pel
i
nepr
obl
em i
s,i
nreal
i
ty,adr
opoutpr
obl
em.Ands
o,whi
l
eIdeni
tel
ysuppor
tpr
o-
gr
amst
hatenabl
emor
ewomenandgi
rl
stobr
ushupt
hei
rcodi
ngs
kil
l
s,Is
eecul
tur
east
hemai
nbar
ri
er.I
t
canbet
ri
ckyt
oex
plai
n,butIf
oundt
hisar
ti
cl
epr
ett
yhel
pful
.Not
hingi
sgoi
ngt
ochangeunt
ilt
echcompa-
ni
esval
ue
sof
tr
olesasequal
l
yasengi
neer
ingr
oles
,andunt
ilt
heyl
etgooft
her
idi
cul
ousbel
i
eft
hatt
hey
ar
epur
elymer
it
ocr
ati
c.

ANNFRI
EDMAN
Fr
eel
anceWr
it
er,Podcast
er
61
Whats
houl
dtechc
ompani
esc
hanget
oaddr
esst
hei
ssuesofnewmoms
dr
oppi
ngout?
Abi
gpr
obl
em i
swhent
echc
ompani
esal
i
gn
cul
tur
ewi
thper
for
manc
e.Manyt
echc
ompani
esex
pec
tyou
t
obei
ntheoc
eatal
lhour
s(ev
enwheny
ouc
andot
hewor
kjus
taswel
lf
rom home)
,gooutf
orc
ompany
dr
inks
,goonc
ompanyt
ri
ps,
andengagei
not
herc
ult
ure-
rel
atedev
ent
sthatc
anex
cludepr
egnantand
nur
singwomen,
par
ent
s,andot
her
swhoj
ustdon
tpr
efert
hos
eac
tiv
iti
es.
Themor
etec
hcompani
esc
an
s
epar
atepar
ti
ci
pat
ingi
nal
loft
he
cul
tur
alac
tiv
iti
esf
rom ac
tual
wor
kper
for
manc
e,t
hemor
epar
ent
swi
l
l
s
tayi
ntec
handt
hemor
ecompani
eswi
l
lbenetbyr
ewar
dingt
angi
blewor
kper
for
manc
e.

SARAMAUSKOPF
Co-
founderofWi
nni
e

Kicki
ngassi
sult
imat
elythebes
trevenge,
thoughit
does n'
tmeanIwon'
ttal
kaboutwhatneedstochange
alongtheway.

KATHRYNMI
NSHEW

Whatadvi
cewoul
dyougi
vet
oent
repr
eneur
sofc
olor
?
Oneoft
het
hingsnotf
requent
lyac
knowl
edgedi
nthet
echwor
ldi
showi
mpor
tantnet
wor
ksandper
sonal
re-
l
ati
onsar
etot
hingsl
i
ker
ais
ingi
nves
tment(
whi
ch,
foral
mos
tanyt
echv
ent
ure,
isanec
ess
aryc
ondi
ti
onf
or
s
ucc
ess
).Thi
sof
tenput
speopl
eofc
olori
nadi
sadv
ant
agedpos
it
ion notoutofi
ntent
,butbec
aus
epeopl
e
ofc
olorar
eles
sli
kel
ytohav
eac
ces
stot
hes
enet
wor
ks(
alt
houghc
irc
ums
tanc
esobv
ious
lyv
arybyper
son)
.
Sot
hes
ugges
ti
onI
hav
eist
oinv
ests
igni
cantt
imer
eac
hingoutt
oindi
vi
dual
peopl
ei
npar
ti
cul
ar,
ent
re-
pr
eneur
st
oes
tabl
i
sht
her
elat
ions
hipsandnet
wor
kst
hatar
ecr
uci
alf
ort
hingsl
i
kef
undr
ais
ing.
Thi
scer
-
t
ainl
yis
n'tapanac
ea;
ther
ear
esy
stemi
cpr
obl
emsl
i
keunc
ons
ciousbi
ast
hatt
hei
ndus
tryneedst
odomor
e
t
oaddr
ess
.But
,It
hinki
t'
sav
aluabl
est
art
.

CHARLI
ECHEEVER
Co-
founderofQuor
aandExpo

62
Whatadvi
cedoyouhaveforr
ecrui
ti
ngt
alent
edpeopl
efr
om
under
repr
esent
edbackgr
ounds?
I
woul
dsummar
izei
tas
:

1
.St
artear
ly
.
2.
Lookf
ordi
ver
sit
yinev
eryr
ole-i
nves
tor
s,boar
d,ex
ecut
ives
,et
c.
3.
Re-
emphas
izei
twhent
hinki
ngaboutr
ecr
uit
ingandbakei
tint
oyourr
ecr
uit
ingpr
act
ices
.
4.
Thi
nkabouthowdi
ver
seempl
oyeesmayt
hri
ve.
Whatpr
ogr
amsc
ans
uppor
tabr
oadr
angeofpeopl
eat
y
ourc
ompany
?

ELADGI
L
AngelI
nves
tor
,Co-
founderofCol
orGenomi
cs

Whatadvi
cewoul
dyougi
vetosomeonewhoisafr
aidtheymi
ghtbe
mar
ginal
iz
edduetot
hei
rsex,r
ace,s
kinc
olor
,orbackgr
ound?
I
lov
edhowmyPr
ojec
tInc
ludet
eammat
eEr
icaJ
oys
aidi
tyes
ter
day
:I
woul
dsayt
hatt
hisc
ult
uremays
eem
daunt
ingbuty
ouc
anc
omeher
e,andy
ouc
ans
ucc
eed,
andy
ouc
anac
hiev
eany
thi
ngt
hatany
onei
nthi
sin-
dus
tryc
an.
You
repr
obabl
ybet
terati
tbec
aus
eyouhadt
owor
khar
dert
opr
ovey
our
sel
f
.Comei
ntot
his
,
don
tbes
hyabouti
t,s
peakupf
ory
our
sel
fandt
akewhat

syour
s.

ELLENPAO
Co-
founderofPr
ojectI
ncl
ude

63
 CHAPTER 13

Becomi
ngan
Ent
repr
eneur
I
fy our
eanent r
epreneur(orcons i
deringbecomingonei nthefutur
e)thereisa
treasur
etroveofgreatadv i
ceyouc anlearnf
rom thosewhohav ebeent herein
thepas t
.Learni
ngfrom yourmistakesi sanessenti
alpartoft
hejourney,butyou
cantaordtomakeev er
ypossibleone. Lett
hes uccessesandfail
uresofothers
serveasagui detoy ourownent repreneuri
alpath.Here
swhat20ent repreneur
s
hadt osayaboutthec ri
ti
call
essonst heyv
elearned.
64
 Bec
ompl
etel
yvul
ner
abl
eandt
hinkf
oryour
sel
f:
T
obeanent
repr
eneur
,youhav
etobewi
l
li
ngt
obec
ompl
etel
yvul
ner
abl
eandt
hink
ent
ir
elyf
ory
our
sel
f
.Ii
magi
net
hatc
anbel
ear
ned,
butI
am nots
ure.

.
..
Andber
eadyt
ober
idi
cul
edal
ongt
heway:
Nobodywhoev
erbui
l
tagr
eatc
ompanywas
n'tr
idi
cul
edal
ongt
heway
.Ify
ouar
edr
iven
bys
oci
als
ignal
s,y
ous
houl
dn'
tbeanent
repr
eneur
.That
'
snots
ayt
haty
ous
houl
dn'
t
ev
erl
i
stent
oinput
,buty
ouhav
etodec
idef
ory
our
sel
f
.

BEN HOROWI
TZ
Co-
founderofAndr
eessenHor
owi
tz
65
Sur
roundyour
sel
fwi
tht
her
ightpeopl
e:
Ens
uri
ngy
ous
urr
oundy
our
sel
fwi
tht
her
ightpeopl
emakest
hedi
er
enc
e.Sur
roundy
our
sel
fwi
thpeopl
e
whoi
ntr
iguey
ou,
chal
l
engey
ou,
ands
har
eas
inc
erec
onc
ernf
ory
ours
ucc
essandhappi
nes
s.Any
thi
ngl
ess
t
hant
hati
snogoodwheny
ou
ret
ryi
ngt
ogr
ow.

J
ACKDORSEY
Co-
founderofTwi
tt
erandSquar
e

Beopt
imi
sti
candbel
ieveanyt
hingi
spos
sibl
e:
Y
ouhav
etobeopt
imi
st
icandbel
i
eveany
thi
ngi
spos
sibl
e.Y
ouc
an'
tl
ett
hatgo.
But
,youal
sohav
etobe
pr
agmat
ic.
Whens
omet
hingdoes
n'tf
eel
right
,as
kyour
sel
f
,I
sthi
sthemos
twor
thwhi
l
eus
eofmyt
imeand
myt
eam'
sti
meorar
ether
ethi
ngswec
oul
ddot
hatwoul
dhav
emor
eimpac
t?I
ftheans
weri
sno,
stayon
c
our
se.

J
OSHELMAN
Par
tneratGr
eyl
ock

Advi
cef
orext
rover
tswhenwor
kingwi
thi
ntr
over
tedc
o-f
ounder
s:
1
.Rec
ogni
zet
hei
rneedf
orqui
ett
imet
oreal
l
yfoc
usandgeti
ntoas
tat
eofowi
nthei
rwor
k.
2.
Giv
epeopl
eadv
anc
enot
iceofwhaty
ouwantt
otal
kaboutbef
orehol
dingameet
ing.
3.
Hav
eanopendi
scus
sionabouty
ourdi
er
ingt
emper
ament
showy
oul
i
ket
owor
k,whaty
ourr
espec
tiv
e
s
trengt
hsandc
hal
l
engesar
e,andhowt
omakes
uret
haty
ou'
vedi
vi
dedy
ourwor
kloads
oyou'
repl
ayi
ngt
o
t
hos
est
rengt
hsandas
signi
ngt
hec
hal
l
engest
othos
ewhoc
anbes
tmeett
hem.

BLAKEI
RVI
NG
CEO ofGoDaddy

Youhavetobeopt
imi
st
icandbel
i
ev eany
thingi
s
possi
ble.
But,
youal
sohavetobepragmati
c.

J
OSHELMAN

66
Youwon
tber
eadyunt
ilyouj
umpi
nandi
t
sbes
tnott
ojumpi
nal
one:
Don
tgi
veup.
Ent
repr
eneur
shi
pisabumpyr
ide,
andI
wai
tedt
hreey
ear
sbef
oret
aki
ngt
hej
ump.
Evenaf
ter
wai
ti
ngt
hreey
ear
s,I
was
n'tr
eady
butI
don'
tbel
i
evey
ouc
anber
eadyunt
ily
ouj
umpi
n.I
als
otel
lev
ery
one
t
haty
ouc
an
tdoi
tal
one.
Ithought
sol
opr
enuer
meantdoi
ngal
lthewor
kyour
sel
f
,butt
hatdoes
n'tal
l
ow
y
out
osc
aleorhav
eal
i
fe.
Itmakest
hel
owsv
eryl
ow,
anddoes
n'tgi
vey
our
oom t
ocel
ebr
atet
hewi
ns.

BRI
ANFANZO
Founderofi
Soci
alFanz

Phot
obyEdwi
nTs
e

Bui
ldt
hepr
oductyouwi
shal
readyexi
stedi
nthewor
ld:
It
hinkt
hebes
tpr
oduct
sandcompani
eshavegr
ownf
rom t
hei
dea:
Iwantt
hist
hingt
oex
ist
,soIgues
sI'
l
l
bet
heonewhogoesoutandmakesi
t.
It

sal
sowor
thnot
ingt
hatmydadwasanent
repr
eneur
,too;he
ownedanel
ect
ri
cal
cont
ract
ingcompanyi
nBos
ton.Iwor
kedf
orhi
scompanyi
nthes
ummer
.Ihadt
heun-
der
standi
ngt
hatIcoul
dbemyownbos
sbecaus
eIs
awmydaddoi
t,andIgues
sthatmades
tar
ti
ngacom-
panys
eem mor
eacces
sibl
e.

DENNI
SCROWLEY
Co-
founderofFour
squar
e
67
St
arts
oonerr
athert
hanl
ater
:
I
regr
etnots
tar
ti
ngear
li
er.
Ever
yonehast
alent
,buti
ttakesc
our
aget
ofol
l
owi
ttot
hedar
kpl
aceswher
e
i
tleads
.

DAVI
DBYTOW
Co-
founderofSecr
et

I
fyouarewor
ri
edaboutl
aunchi
ngsomethi
ngbec
aus
eyouf
earyoumay
havet
omaint
ainapr
oducti
ndeni
tel
y:
Thi
sisapar
ti
cul
art
ypeoff
ear
,wher
eyouar
eal
readypl
anni
ngt
obes
osuc
ces
sful
thaty
ouc
an'
tev
enget
s
tar
ted!
Lot
sofengi
neer
swi
l
lsays
omet
hingl
i
ket
his
:I
don'
twantt
olaunc
hthi
sthi
ngbec
aus
eI'
l
lgets
o
manyc
ust
omers
erv
iceemai
l
s.I
fyou'
reget
ti
ngt
onsofc
ust
omers
erv
iceemai
l
s,t
hat
'
sagoodt
hing.
Youc
an
t
hrowmoneyatt
hepr
obl
em andhi
rei
taway
.Yourbi
gges
tconc
erns
houl
dbebui
l
dings
omet
hingt
hatpeopl
e
ac
tual
l
ycar
eabout
.Yous
houl
dbes
oluc
kyt
haty
ourpr
oduc
trequi
resongoi
ngmai
ntenanc
e.Her
ear
etwo
ot
hert
hingst
othi
nkabout
:

1
.Don'
ttr
ytobe40bef
orey
ou'
re40.
Somanypeopl
efoc
usonal
lthes
eadv
anc
edpr
obl
ems
,li
keA/
Btes
t-
i
ngt
imei
nter
val
s,bef
oret
heyev
enhav
eapr
oduc
t.Knowt
haty
ou'
l
llear
nasy
ougo,
andy
ouwi
l
lbemor
e
equi
ppedt
ohandl
echal
l
engesasy
ougetbi
ggerandenc
ount
ernewpr
obl
ems
.
2.
You'
rei
ncont
rol
.I
fyoudec
idey
oudon'
twantt
opr
oduc
econt
ent
,youc
anhi
rei
tout
.Orc
hangey
ourbus
i-
nes
smodel
.Ors
huti
tdown!
Youar
einc
ont
rol
.

RAMI
TSETHI
Aut
horofIWi
l
lTeachYout
oBeRi
ch

Whatdoi
fyours
tar
tupf
ail
s:
Fi
rst
,you'
vegott
obei
ncr
edi
blyhones
twi
thy
our
sel
faboutwhyy
ours
tar
tupf
ail
ed.
Tonsofs
ucc
ess
ful
f
ounder
shav
eaf
ail
edc
ompanyi
nthei
rpas
t;t
hedi
er
enc
einmos
tcas
esi
swhet
hert
heygenui
nel
yunder
-
s
tandwhyi
tfai
l
ed.
Asmuc
haspos
sibl
e,ex
ami
neev
erypi
ece:
Wher
ecoul
dyouhav
edonebet
ter
?Wher
e
di
dyoudoal
lyouc
oul
d,buts
omehowi
twas
n'tenough?Wher
edi
dyouac
tual
l
yki
ckas
sandt
akenames
?
Paty
our
sel
font
hebac
kfort
hel
att
er.
Thent
hinkabout
,ify
ouwantt
ost
artagai
n,howc
any
oumi
nimi
zet
he
f
ormer
.I
nmyc
ase,
mybi
gges
tmi
st
akewast
rus
ti
ngt
hewr
ongpeopl
e(whi
chs
ucksbuti
slear
nabl
e).
Ial
so
r
eal
i
zedI
knewj
ack
-shi
taboutf
undr
ais
ing,
soI
wor
kedont
hos
etwowhenwes
tar
tedov
er.

KATHRYNMI
NSHEW
FounderofTheMus
e

68
Onwhatt
owor
kon:
Bui
l
dwhaty
ouwantt
oseeandus
e.

J
ACKDORSEY
Co-
founderofTwi
tt
erandSquar
e

Yourbigges
tconc
erns
houl
dbebui
l
dings
omet
hing
t
hatpeopleact
ual
l
ycar
eabout
.

RAMI
TSETHI

Howt
obui
ldas
tar
tupands
til
lpayt
hebi
ll
s:
WhenI
star
tedBuer
,Iwaswor
kingf
ull
-t
imef
ors
ever
alc
li
ent
sandbui
l
dingBueront
hes
ide.
Her
ear
ea
f
ewkeyt
hingsI
did:

1
.Ior
igi
nal
l
ywor
kedonBueri
ntheev
eni
ngs
.Ov
ert
ime,
Ifoundt
hatt
obei
neec
tiv
ebec
aus
eIwasof
ten
t
ir
edatt
heendoft
heday
.So,
Iswi
tchedt
osl
eepi
ngear
ly
,ri
si
ngear
ly
,andt
henwor
kingonBuerf
ors
ever
al
hour
sbef
oredoi
ngc
li
entwor
k.Thats
chedul
ewasmuc
h,muc
hbet
ter
andI
thi
nki
tmi
ghthav
ebeenoneof
t
hekey
sthathel
pedmeac
tual
l
ygetBuerot
hegr
ound.
2.
WhenI
wasaf
reel
anc
er,
Ihadmanyf
ri
endswhower
eal
sof
reel
anc
ersorhadt
hei
rownagenc
ies
.Is
aw
t
hatpat
hcoul
dwor
kforme.
Thehar
dpar
tis
,wheny
ou'
redoi
ngas
tar
tup,
youdon'
tseepr
ogr
essasf
astas
y
oudowi
thas
erv
icebus
ines
s.Ther
e'saper
iodofl
ear
ningandt
ryi
ngandf
ail
i
ng.
Thatper
iodwast
oughf
or
me,
butI
dec
idedI
want
edt
omakeas
tar
tupwor
k.I
soughtoutf
reel
anc
eoppor
tuni
ti
est
hatwoul
dmakei
t
eas
yformet
odr
opf
reel
anc
ingonc
eInal
l
ydi
dmakes
omet
hingwor
kwi
thoutdi
sappoi
nti
ngc
li
ent
s.Akey
par
toft
hatwasdoi
ngwor
kforot
heragenc
ieswhent
heyhadt
oomuc
hwor
kont
hei
rpl
ate.
3.
Iwasl
uckyenought
ohav
eas
etupwher
e,asBuers
tar
tedt
ogr
ow,
Icoul
dgr
adual
l
ysl
owdownmyf
ree-
l
anc
ewor
kandt
rans
it
ionov
er.

J
OELGASCOI
GNE
Co-
founderofBuer

69
Fi
ndc ommit
tedandt
rus
twor
thyi
nves
tor
s,c
o-f
ounder
s,ment
ors
,and
advi
sors:
1
.Sur
roundyour
sel
fwi
thadvi
sor
sandment
ors
,andt
henus
ethem l
i
ber
all
yforadv
ice.
Fewpr
obl
emsor
c
hal
l
engesar
enew,
andt
alki
ngt
osomeonewhohass
eenwhatdi
danddi
dn'
twor
kbef
orei
sinv
aluabl
e.
Haveac
2. o-f
oundert
hatyout
rus
tcompl
etel
y.Beequal
par
tner
sinec
onomi
cs,
butal
sobec
learabout
dec
isi
onmaki
ng(
e.g.
twoCEOsdoes
n'twor
k).
Hav
ings
omeonei
nthes
truggl
ewhoc
anl
ockar
mswi
thy
ou
dayt
odayi
scr
it
ical
.
Fi
3. ndanexper
ienc
edandc
ommi
tt
edi
nves
tort
opar
tnerwi
th.I
thi
nkonenegat
ivec
ons
equenc
eofl
ess
c
onc
ent
rat
eds
eedr
oundshasbeent
hati
nves
tor
sar
en'
tasc
los
etot
hec
ompany
.Someofmybes
tinv
est
-
ment
swer
eSer
iesA/
Seedswher
eDF
Jdi
dthewhol
eroundandwast
heonl
yout
si
deBODmemberf
ort
he
r
sty
ear
.
Pi
4. c
kavi
si
onwhi
chi
nspi
respeopl
ebeyondmaki
ngmoney
.St
art
upsar
ehar
d,andi
thel
psi
fyou,
your
empl
oyees
,andt
hei
rfami
l
y/f
ri
endsc
areaboutwhaty
ou'
redoi
ngonaper
sonal
lev
el.
ElonMus
kist
he
mas
teroft
his
:Tes
lai
sabouts
avi
ngt
hewor
ldf
rom f
oss
ilf
uel
s,Spac
eXi
saboutgoi
ngt
oMar
s.Thos
emi
s-
s
ionsi
nspi
repeopl
etoputi
nthei
rbes
t,dayaf
terday
.Ital
soi
nspi
resi
nves
tor
s.
Li
5. s
tent
oever
yone.Butaf
tery
ou'
vehear
dlot
sofi
nput
,tr
usty
ourgutanddon'
tbeaf
rai
dtot
hinkdi
er
-
ent
ly
.It
'
stheonl
ywayt
oupendanddi
sruptani
ndus
try
.Youngerf
ounder
sof
tendobet
terbec
aus
ethey
don'
tknowal
lther
eas
onswhys
omet
hingc
an'
tbedone.

J
OSHSTEI
N
Par
tneratDFJVent
ureCapi
tal

Thet
hreet
hingsever
yent
repr
eneurs
houl
dbet
hinki
ngaboutdai
ly:
1
.Thei
rlegac
y
2.
Thei
rlac
koft
ime
3.
Theenor
mousamountoft
imet
heyhav
eandappl
yi
ngpat
ienc
etoev
erydec
isi
onandex
ecut
ion.
Iam
awar
ethatt
hes
econdandt
hir
dpoi
ntsar
econt
radi
cti
ons
.

GARYVAYNERCHUK
CEO ofVayner
Medi
a,I
nves
tor
,Aut
hor

Bui
ldwi
thyourc
ust
omer
sinmi
nd:
Li
st
ent
oyourc
ust
omer
s.Asaf
ounder
,youc
angetc
aughtupi
nbui
l
dingandc
anmaket
hingsov
erl
ycom-
pl
i
cat
ed.
It'
simpor
tantt
oli
st
ent
ofeedbac
kfr
om y
ourus
ersandmakes
uret
haty
ouaddr
esst
hei
rneeds
.

J
ASONSTEI
N
Co-
founderofI
moj
i

70
Makes
ureyouwantt
obeanent
repr
eneurf
ort
her
ightr
eas
ons
:
I
fpeopl
eappr
oac
hmeands
ayt
hey
dl
i
ket
obec
omeanent
repr
eneur
,Ias
kthem,
Ist
hisani
tch,
ori
sit
bur
ning?
Theans
weri
sbas
ical
l
ygoi
ngt
otel
lmehowbadl
yyouwanti
t,andhowl
ongy
ou'
regoi
ngt
ost
ick
wi
thi
twhent
hingsgett
ough.
Howmuc
hfuel
doy
ouhav
eint
het
ankwhent
hingsi
nev
itabl
ygethar
d?How
r
esour
cef
ular
eyougoi
ngt
obet
oov
erc
omet
hec
hal
l
engest
hatwi
l
linev
itabl
ycomey
ourway
?

BRYANJ
OHNSON
FounderofBr
aint
ree

Youngerfounder
soft
endobet
terbec
auset
heydon't
knowal l
thereasonswhys
omethi
ngcan'
tbedone.

J
OSHSTEI
N

Net
wor
k,net
wor
k,net
wor
k:
Net
wor
k.L
ear
nhowt
odoi
t.Ther
eisnobet
ters
kil
lyouc
anhav
e.T
akeav
acat
ionbef
orey
ous
tar
tyour
s
tar
tup,
andhol
dont
othos
ememor
ies
.

CARL
YZAKI
N
Co-
founderofTheSki
mm

Bec
omeavor
aci
ousr
eader
:
Readi
ngi
sthet
hingI
'
vedonemor
einmyl
i
fet
hanany
thi
ngel
se.
Jus
tget
ti
ngi
ntot
hehabi
tofr
eadi
ngmor
n-
i
ng,
noon,
andni
ghthel
pedpr
epar
emef
orev
ery
thi
ngt
hatc
ameaf
ter
.Andbyr
eadi
ng,
Imeanbookss
pec
if-
i
cal
l
y.I
hav
eat
heor
ythatanyi
deat
hatc
anbeex
plai
nedi
nat
weetorabl
ogpos
tisnotonewor
tht
hinki
ng
about
.Ideasneeds
pac
etobr
eat
heandbec
ons
ider
ed.

YANCEYSTRI
CKLER
Co-
founderofKi
cks
tar
ter

71
 CHAPTER 14

Explor i
ng
Dier entRoles
andI ndustr
ies
ProductHuntLI VEChatgues t
shav ec omef rom manydi erenti
ndus tr
ies.Some
arelong-ti
mes tar
tupinvest
orsorbes t-
in-cl
assproductmanager s ,
whi l
eot her
sare
i
nc r
ediblytal
entedwr i
ter
s,photographers,jour
nalis
ts,andat hl
etes.Forthoseof
youwhoar einter
estedinpursuingac areerinapar t
icul
arindustry
,y oul
lnd
adviceinthissect
iongeareds pecical
lytowardy ouri
nteres t
s.
72
Phot
obyI
anAl
l
en

Youngdevel
oper
sshoul
dfocusonbui
ldasmuc
hst
u
asposs
ible:
Bui
l
dst
u!
Alotofs
tu!
Hel
pful
tool
sfory
our
sel
f
,appsf
orf
ri
ends
,wi
l
dideasy
ouwantt
o
t
ry.
Jus
tbui
l
dat
onofs
hitandmakei
tbet
ter
.You'
l
llear
nat
onev
eryt
ime.
Getaj
ob
s
omepl
acewher
eyouc
anbeas
pongeandl
ear
nat
onf
rom s
mar
tpeopl
ear
oundy
ou,
f
rom abos
syoul
ookupt
o,andf
orac
ompanyt
haty
out
hinki
sdoi
ngs
omet
hingi
mpor
tant
.

KAYVON BEYKPOUR
Co-
founderofPer
iscope

73
I
nves
ting
Oneoft
hemos
tcommonques
tionsi
nves
tor
sgetf
rom t
hePr
oduc
tHuntc
ommuni
tyi
s,
Howc
anIdowhat
y
oudo?
Mor
ethanadoz
eni
nves
tor
schi
medi
nwi
tht
hei
rthought
sf
rom i
nit
ial
l
ybr
eaki
ngi
ntot
hei
ndus
try
t
oex
cel
l
ingatwhatt
heydo.

Ti
m Fer
ri
ssadvi
cef
orl
andi
ngaVCj
ob:
I
woul
dreadVent
ureDeal
sbyBr
adFel
dandJ
asonMendel
son.
Then,
Iwoul
dspendadayonAngel
Li
st
l
ooki
ngatv
ari
ousj
obs
,andr
eadt
he
Jobs
pagesoft
opVCr
msl
i
keSequoi
a,Benc
hmar
k,and
Andr
ees
senHor
owi
tz
.Nex
t,I

dlookatt
heB-
ti
err
msandt
akeas
hotatpi
tchi
ngaf
ew.
Thi
ngsmi
ghtbe
eas
ieri
fyoumov
etot
heBayAr
ea,
orar
ewi
l
li
ngt
o.Las
tbutnotl
eas
t,s
tar
tint
hemai
lroom i
fyouhav
eto.
Y
ouc
anal
way
swor
kyourwayupandj
ustneedaf
ooti
nthedoor
.

TI
M FERRI
SS
Aut
hor
,Ent
repr
eneur
,Podcas
ter

J
oshKopel
mans
ayst
hebes
tinves
tor
shel
pent
repr
eneur
swi
n:
I
thi
nkt
hatent
repr
eneur
swantt
owor
kwi
thi
nves
tor
swhot
heybel
i
evewi
l
lhel
pthem wi
n.I
thi
nkagoodi
n-
v
est
orneedst
ohav
eex
per
ienc
e,pat
ienc
e,c
onnec
tiv
ity
,humi
l
it
y,andempat
hy.

J
OSHKOPELMAN
Par
tneratFi
rstRoundCapi
tal

HowSar
ahTavell
andedherr
stVCj
obatBes
semer
:
I
thi
nkI
conv
inc
edt
hem bys
howi
ngt
hem I
wasf
ucki
ngper
sis
tent
.Iwasgoi
ngt
ogetont
hephone,
Iwas
goi
ngt
oemai
lcons
ist
ent
lyI
wasgoi
ngt
odoany
thi
ngt
omeetgr
eatf
ounder
s.I
thi
nkt
hat
'
swhaty
oul
ook
f
orwheny
ou'
rehi
ri
ngf
ort
hatr
ole.
Als
o,I
wasj
ustas
mar
tlear
ner
.Iwasgoi
ngt
odowhat
everI
neededt
o
dot
olear
ntec
hnol
ogy
,ev
ent
houghi
twas
n'tac
tual
l
yapar
tofanyofmypr
evi
ousex
per
ienc
es.

SARAHTAVEL
Par
tneratBenchmar
k

74
RyanSarvers
ugges
tsl
ear
ningf
rom VCswhoar
eal
readygr
eatatwhat
theydo:
I
per
sonal
l
yfoc
usonl
ear
ningf
rom peopl
ewhoar
eal
readygr
eatati
tands
eewhatI
canappl
ytomyown
per
sonal
sty
le.
Ispendal
otoft
imet
alki
ngt
omor
eex
per
ienc
edi
nves
tor
sandent
repr
eneur
s.VChass
ucha
l
onghor
izont
hatI
thi
nki
t'
sreal
l
yhar
dtoknowi
fyou'
reanygoodati
tforal
ongt
ime.
Sohopef
ull
y,mys
trat
-
egywor
ksout
.

RYANSARVER
Par
tneratRedpoi
ntVent
ures

Ent
repr
eneurswantt
oworkwi
thi
nves
tor
swhot
hey
beli
evewil
lhel
pthem wi
n.

J
OSHKOPELMAN

GeoLewi
sont
hemos
timpor
tants
kil
lsf
ori
nves
tor
satFounder
sFund:
Themos
timpor
tantt
hingatFounder
sFundi
sbei
ngpr
oac
tiv
e.Pr
oac
tiv
elydoi
ngt
hingsandt
aki
ngi
nit
iat
ive
wi
thoutdi
rec
tion,
aswel
lashav
ingc
ondenc
eandhi
ghc
onv
ict
ion,
isc
rit
ical
.Anot
heri
mpor
tantat
tr
ibut
eis
notneedi
ngal
otofv
ali
dat
ionf
rom ot
her
s.Somepeopl
edoneedt
hisandi
t'
stot
all
yne,
butt
hat
'
snotour
c
ult
ureatFounder
sFund.
Thev
ali
dat
ionwegeti
sdoi
ngawes
omewor
k,notpat
sont
hebac
k.

GEOFFLEWI
S
Par
tneratFounder
sFund

BenHor
owi
tzs
ugges
tsj
oini
ngorf
oundi
ngas
tar
tupbef
orebec
omi
ngan
i
nves
tor
:
St
artac
ompanyorj
oinas
tar
tupandl
ear
nwhatt
hepr
oces
sofbui
l
dingac
ompanyf
eel
sli
ke.
It'
sal
mos
tim-
pos
sibl
etol
ear
nanyot
herway
.

BENHOROWI
TZ
Co-
founderofAndr
ees
senHor
owi
tz

75
Mic
hell
eTandl
eront
heval
ueofwor
kingatas
tar
tupbef
orebec
omi
ngan
i
nvest
or:
Wor
kingatYammergav
emeal
otofempat
hyf
orhowhar
diti
stobui
l
dapr
oduc
t.I
spentt
woy
ear
s,ev
ery
day
,wi
tht
eammat
eswhower
eengi
neer
s,des
igner
s,s
uppor
tands
alespeopl
e,et
c.Wec
oul
dspendweeks
wor
kingonapr
oduc
tnooneus
ed,
ors
omet
hingt
hatwoul
dul
ti
mat
elynotwor
kpr
oper
ly
.Ideal
twi
tht
he
wr
athandl
oveofc
ust
omer
sandus
ersonadai
l
ybas
is,
whi
chl
edt
oal
otofhi
ghsandl
ows
.I'
l
lnev
erf
orget
t
hef
eel
i
ngofl
aunc
hings
omet
hingy
ou'
vepour
eds
omanyhour
sint
o.Asani
nves
tor
,It
ryt
onev
erf
orget
howhar
diti
stobui
l
dsomet
hing.

MI
CHELLETANDLER
For
merVCatTr
ini
tyVent
ures

DavePel
lsugges
tsgoi
ngt
opi
tcheswi
thgoodi
nves
tor
s:
Makef
ri
endswi
thagoodangel
inv
est
orandt
ryt
ogot
opi
tcheswi
tht
hem.
Ever
ythi
ngI
knowabouti
nves
t-
i
ngI
'
vel
ear
nedf
rom BobZi
ppofAmi
cusCapi
tal
.Wi
thouthi
m,I
'
dbes
olel
yahumani
ti
esmaj
or.

DAVEPELL
FounderofNext
Draf
t

BobbyGoodl
att
esugges
tsgai
ningoper
ati
onalexper
ienc
ebef
ore
becomi
ngaVC:
I
t
sdi
cul
t(r
ead:
near
lyi
mpos
sibl
e)t
omakes
igni
canti
nroadsi
nVCwi
thoutdeepoper
ati
onal
exper
ienc
e.I
wasaCSmaj
ori
ncol
l
ege.
Idi
dat
onoff
reel
anc
edes
ignwor
k,i
ncl
udi
ngs
omepr
obonoc
har
it
ypr
ojec
ts.
-
Thos
esi
depr
ojec
tswer
ehowI
joi
nedFac
ebook.
Iputmywor
konl
i
neandi
twasdi
scov
eredbyanot
herde-
s
ignerf
rom FB.
Igott
owor
kwi
ths
omeoft
hes
mar
tes
tengi
neer
sanddes
igner
sint
hewor
ld.
Thel
ess
onsI
l
ear
nedf
rom wor
kingwi
tht
hos
epeopl
ehav
eser
vedasaf
oundat
ioni
nmyc
areer
asbot
hani
nves
torand
af
ounder
.Manyoft
hei
nves
tor
sIl
ookupt
ost
art
edout1
00%f
ocus
edonbui
l
dinggr
eatt
hings
.Wor
konf
un
pr
ojec
ts,
may
bes
tar
tac
ompanyorj
oinas
tar
tup butmos
tl
y,j
ustbui
l
d.Thr
oughbui
l
dingy
oul
ear
nwhat
t
olookf
orasani
nves
tor
,andy
ouhopef
ull
ygett
owor
kwi
thgr
eatpeopl
e(whoy
ouc
anl
ateri
nves
tin)
.

BOBBYGOODLATTE
AngelI
nves
tor

76
 Cr
aigShapi
roonhi
str
ans
iti
onf
rom t
hemedi
aindus
tryt
oVC:
I
thi
nkany
onec
anbeagr
eatv
ent
urec
api
tal
i
st.
Inf
act
,hav
ingadi
ver
ses
etofi
nter
est
sandex
per
ienc
esi
s
akeyadv
ant
age.
Ini
ti
aldi
scus
sionswi
thLPs(
i
nves
tor
s)wer
echal
l
engi
ngbutmuc
hli
keas
tar
tup,
youonl
y
needaf
ewpeopl
etobel
i
evei
nyouandar
ewi
l
li
ngt
omakeabet
.Then,
iti
supt
oyout
oex
ecut
eandmake
s
h*thappen!

CRAI
GSHAPI
RO
FounderofCol
l
abor
ati
veFund

AndyWei
ssmanont
hec
hal
lengesofbei
ngaVC:
I
hav
eal
way
sthoughtt
hatoneoft
hewi
l
des
tthi
ngsaboutt
hisbus
ines
sisi
t'
slac
kofi
nst
it
uti
onal
memor
y.
Thati
s,awi
l
li
ngnes
stot
ryt
hingsev
enwhenhi
st
orywoul
dsugges
tdoi
ngs
omet
hingel
se,
whi
chc
anobv
i-
ous
lyc
anbef
rus
trat
ing.
Thatbei
ngs
aid,
Iknowt
het
imeswhenI
lear
nedt
hemos
t(or
,hadt
hes
teepes
t
l
ear
ningc
urv
e)waswhenI
hadnoi
deawhatI
wasdoi
ng.

ANDYWEI
SSMAN
Par
tneratUni
onSquar
eVent
ures

Engi
neer
ing
I
fyou
repas
sionat
eaboutbec
omi
ngadev
eloperordes
igner
,thi
ssec
tioni
sfory
ou.
Her
ear
esomeoft
he
pi
ecesofadv
icef
rom ot
her
sint
hei
ndus
tryonki
ck-
star
ti
ngy
ourc
areer
whet
hery
ou
rej
ustl
ear
ninghow
t
ocode,
orr
eadyt
ondy
ourr
stj
obi
ntec
h.

I
nspi
ri
nggi
rl
sandwoment
ocode:
Al
otofgi
rl
sandwomenar
eins
pir
edbyhel
pingpeopl
eandc
reat
ingpos
it
ives
oci
ali
mpac
t.Ri
ghtnowi
t'
s
notal
way
scl
eart
hatc
odi
ngi
sameanst
othatki
ndofanend.
It'
smor
eobv
ioushowbei
ngadoc
tor
,ora
t
eac
her
,orev
enar
eght
er,
hel
pspeopl
e.I
t'
scr
it
ical
thatwebui
l
dthatl
i
nkbet
weenc
odi
ngandwhats
oft
-
war
ecando.
Ithi
nkoff
ami
l
iar
it
ywi
thc
odi
ngasanewki
ndofl
i
ter
acy
.Notev
ery
onei
sapr
ofes
sional
wri
ter
,
butv
irt
ual
l
yev
ery
onec
anr
eadandwr
it
e.Notev
ery
oneneedst
owr
it
ecodef
oral
i
ving,
butunder
standi
ng
hows
oft
war
ewor
ksi
simpor
tantf
orhav
ingament
almodel
fort
hewor
ld,
bec
aus
esomuc
hoft
hewor
ldi
s
dr
ivenbys
oft
war
e.

TRACYCHOU
Ear
lyPi
nter
estEngi
neer
,Co-
founderofPr
ojectI
ncl
ude

77
I
fyou
rel
ear
ninghowt
ocode,s
tar
twi
thPyt
hon:
I
ntoday
'swor
ld,
I'
dst
artwi
thPy
thon.
I'
dlear
nbydoi
ng.
Giv
eyour
sel
fanes
cal
ati
ngs
eri
esofc
onc
ret
epr
oj-
ec
ts,
thenwor
kingbac
kwar
dsus
ingGoogl
eandabookt
olear
nenoughc
odi
ngt
ocompl
eteeac
hoft
hem.
Onc
eyou'
rec
omf
ort
abl
ewi
ths
omet
hingl
i
kePy
thon,
you
l
lber
eadyt
olear
nsomemor
eser
iousc
omput
er
s
cienc
e(al
gor
it
hms
;mor
eser
iousl
anguages
;et
c).
Onl
i
nec
our
sesar
ehel
pful
.

CALNEWPORT
Aut
horofDeepWor
kandSoGoodTheyCan
tIgnor
eYou

Notever
yoneneedstowri
tecodeforali
vi
ng,but
unders
tandi
nghows of
twar
ewor ksi
simport
ant
becausesomuchoftheworl
disdriv
enbys of
twar
e.
TRACYCHOU

Whatayoungdes
igners
houl
ddot
ogethi
redbyagr
eatc
ompany:
Wor
khar
d.Andkeepwor
king.
Does
n'tmat
teri
fyou'
rei
naf
ull
-t
imej
ob,
study
ing,
taki
ngy
ourt
imeo,
orj
ust
f
reel
anc
ing.
Ify
ouhav
enopay
ingpr
ojec
tst
owor
kon,
dopr
obonowor
k.I
fyouc
an'
tndany
,bui
l
dsome-
t
hingofy
ourown.
Asades
igner
,youhav
etheopt
iont
obui
l
dal
otoft
hingsy
ouc
ans
howoi
nyourpor
tf
o-
l
i
o.Des
ignani
cons
et,
creat
eaWor
dPr
esst
heme,
makeaUI
kit
.Ify
oudon'
twantt
osel
l
,gi
vei
taway
.Ify
ou
c
an'
tdot
hat
,pi
ckanybadl
ydes
ignedpr
oduc
tandt
hinkofway
syouc
anmaket
hem bet
ter
.I
fit
'
ssomet
hing
y
ouc
andes
ign,
doi
t.Har
dwor
kshows
.Keepwor
king,
keepl
ear
ning,
keeppus
hing.

ARUNPATTNAI
K
Pr
oductDes
igner

Advi
cef
ort
eenswhowantt
obec
omegr
eatdevel
oper
s:
WhenI
wasi
nhi
ghs
chool
,Iwasc
odi
ngal
lthet
imeandI
wor
kedi
nac
omi
cshop.
Igur
edouthowt
ofus
e
myl
oveofc
odi
ngandwor
kbybui
l
dingt
hei
re-
commer
ces
it
einPHP/
MySQL.
Lat
er,
whenI
joi
nedTheCol
-
l
ect
ive(
avi
deogamec
ompany
),I
foundament
ori
nmymanagerNat
hanHunt
,whot
aughtmes
omuc
hov
er
t
hec
our
seofv
eyear
s.Nev
ers
toppr
act
ici
ngt
hej
our
neyofat
hous
andmi
l
esbegi
nswi
thas
ingl
est
ep.

DAVI
DBYTOW
Co-
founderofSecr
et

78

Keepwor
king,
keepl
ear
ning,
keeppus
hing.

ARUNPATTNAI
K

OrmaybeJ
avaSc
ripti
sthewayt
ost
art
:
I
fIwer
elear
ningt
ocodef
rom s
crat
ch,
Iwoul
ddeni
tel
ylear
nJav
aSc
riptt
ost
art
.Youc
anus
eiti
nthe
br
ows
er,
ont
hes
erv
er(
wit
hNode)
,i
nmobi
l
eapps
,et
c.Soy
ouc
andoal
otonl
yknowi
ngt
hatonel
anguage.
Theac
toft
ypi
ngouts
omeoneel
se'
scodei
swei
rdl
yhel
pful
.I
tmakesy
oupayat
tent
iont
oeac
hli
neand
t
hinkabouti
tat
inybi
t.Onc
eyou'
vet
ypedoutex
ampl
es,
it
seas
ytoc
hanget
hem.
Event
ual
l
y,y
ouc
anget
c
omf
ort
abl
ewr
it
ingy
ourowns
tuf
rom s
crat
ch.
Acompl
etel
ydi
er
entpat
hwoul
dbet
ogetgoodatmat
h
r
st.
Ever
ymat
hmaj
orI
knewi
ncol
l
egewasi
mmedi
atel
yagoodpr
ogr
ammert
hemomentt
heyt
ri
edi
tfor
t
her
stt
ime.

CHARLI
ECHEEVER
Co-
founderofQuor
aandExpo

Pr
oduc
tManagement
Pr
oduc
tmanagementi
sbec
omi
ngani
ncr
eas
ingl
ypopul
arc
areerpat
h.Whet
hery
ou
rej
usts
tar
ti
ngouti
n
y
ourc
areerasapr
ojec
tmanager
,ory
ou
rel
ooki
ngt
omak
eat
rans
iti
onf
rom adi
er
entpos
iti
on,
her
es
s
omei
nval
uabl
eadv
iceonhowt
othr
ivei
nthi
scr
it
ical
produc
trol
e.

Gett
oknowkeys
takehol
der
sr
st:
PM i
sver
ycont
ext
ual
,soI
alway
ssayr
stgett
oknowy
ourbos
s,y
ourengi
neer
ingmanager
,yourdes
ign
manager
,andy
ourQAmanager
.Onl
ythenc
any
ougur
eoutwhaty
ous
houl
ddoasaPM.

STEVENSI
NOFSKY
Boar
dPar
tneratAndr
ees
senHor
owi
tz

79
Thebes
tPMshavear
m under
standi
ngofs
har
edhumani
ty:
Thenex
tgener
ati
onofPMsneedt
ohav
ear
m under
standi
ngofhumani
tyr
st.
Thebes
tPMsI
hav
e
l
ear
nedf
rom ar
ethemos
twel
lread,
wel
ltr
avel
ed,
empat
het
ichumanbei
ngsoutt
her
e.Theyhav
ehel
da
gamutofgr
uel
i
ng,
int
eres
ti
ng,
andungl
amor
ousj
obs
.Thenex
tgener
ati
onofPMswi
l
lbeabl
etounder
stand
whatus
erswantt
hroughbot
hsc
ienc
eandguti
nst
inc
t.T
omakeaquant
um l
eapasaPM,
youneedt
ohav
e
hadenoughs
hit
tyex
per
ienc
est
omakey
our
elat
abl
etoany
onef
rom al
lwal
ksofl
i
febec
aus
ethepr
oduc
ts
y
oubui
l
dar
efort
her
estoft
hewor
ld.

BOREN
Pr
oductLeadatTumbl
r

Excel
lentPMsc
anbot
hbui
ldwhatt
heyknowandf
orgetaboutwhatt
hey
know:
Anex
cel
l
entpr
oduc
tmanagerhast
ohav
eaf
ewc
ont
radi
ctor
yper
sonal
i
tyt
rai
ts
:

1
.Apas
sionf
ort
ryi
ngt
omodel
howot
herpeopl
ethi
nk.
Somepeopl
esayy
ous
houl
dbui
l
dwhaty
ouknow,
whi
chi
mpl
i
esbui
l
dingf
orhowy
out
hink.
Howev
er,
mypr
imar
yst
rat
egyf
ormodel
i
nghowot
herpeopl
ethi
nk
i
stoi
magi
nemy
sel
fi
nthei
rshoes
.Ther
efor
e,
whatI
knownotonl
yinc
ludeshowI
thi
nk,
butal
sohowI
t
hinkot
herpeopl
ethi
nkandbehav
e.
2.
Bui
l
dingt
hatmodel
requi
rest
alki
ngandl
i
steni
ngt
olot
sofdi
er
entki
ndsofpeopl
e.Li
st
eni
ngt
othem r
e-
qui
rest
haty
ous
hutdowny
ourmodel
ofhowot
herpeopl
ethi
nk(
bec
aus
ethatwi
l
lcr
eat
ebi
asesands
ter
eo-
t
ypesbas
edony
ourc
urr
entmodel
andnotl
etc
ont
radi
ctor
yornewi
nfor
mat
ioni
naseas
il
y)
.Soy
ouhav
eto
beabl
etot
urnt
hes
etwot
hought
sonando:
bui
l
dwhaty
ouknowand
for
getwhaty
ouknow"
.
3.
Agr
eatPM needst
ohav
ethec
ondenc
etoac
tandt
aker
espons
ibi
l
it
yforac
tionsev
enwi
thl
i
mit
edi
nfor
-
mat
ion,
lac
koft
heappr
opr
iat
eski
l
lsandr
esour
ces
,et
c.Thatc
ondenc
ecan'
tbes
hakenbyc
rit
ici
sm and
poorr
esul
ts
.Itneedst
ohel
pyouadj
ustt
ores
ult
s,l
ear
n,andc
ont
inuei
mpr
ovi
ngy
ours
trat
egyunt
ilc
rit
ici
sm
andpoorr
esul
tsi
mpr
ove.

BUSTERBENSON
Pl
atf
orm Pr
oductLeadatSl
ack

Youneedtohavehadenoughs hitt
yex per
iencestomake
yourel
atabl
etoanyonefrom al
lwalksoflif
ebec auset
he
produc
tsyoubui
ldarefortherestofthewor l
d.

BOREN

80
 PMshel
pther
ightpr
oduc
tdec
isi
onsgetmade:
T
oomanyPMsear
lyi
nthei
rcar
eer
stendt
othi
nkt
hei
rjobi
stomakepr
oduc
tdec
isi
ons
.GoodPMsqui
ckl
y
r
eal
i
zet
hei
rjobi
stohel
pther
ightdec
isi
onsgetmade.

AVI
CHALGARG
Pr
oductManageratFacebook

Y
ouhavet
obeablet
oturnt
wot hought
sonando:
bui
l
d
whaty
ouknowand
for
getwhatyouknow.

BUSTERBENSON

Ifyouwantt
obeas
trongPM,i
thel
pst
ocodepr
ofes
sional
lyf
oraf
ew
years:
As
trongPM i
ssomeonewhoget
sthet
eam t
obui
l
dcons
ens
usandownt
hepr
obl
emst
oget
her
.I
t'
simpor
t-
antt
hatev
ery
oneont
het
eam get
sac
hanc
etoc
ont
ri
but
etondi
ngt
hebes
tpot
ent
ial
ideast
osol
vet
he
pr
obl
emst
heywantt
o.Foras
pir
ingPMs
,Ienc
our
ageasmanyasI
canwhohav
eengi
neer
ingbac
kgr
ounds
t
ocodepr
ofes
sional
l
yforatl
eas
tay
ear
,may
bet
wo.
Yougot
hrought
heent
ir
ecy
cleofbui
l
dings
omet
hing,
c
hangi
ngf
eat
uresal
ongt
heway
,shi
ppi
ngi
t,l
ear
ningwhatwor
kedanddi
dn'
t
,st
ayi
ngupl
atet
oxt
he
bugs
,andbui
l
dingv
2ont
opofwhaty
oubui
l
t.Wi
thatl
eas
tonet
urnt
hrought
hec
ycl
e,y
ou'
l
lhav
eat
otal
l
y
di
er
entper
spec
tiv
ewheny
ouar
einameet
i Y
ng.ou
l
lbeabl
etos
ay,
Can'
twej
ustdot
hisi
nst
ead?
and
y
ou
l
lknowhowadi
er
entdec
isi
oni
mpac
tsy
ourt
eam.
Wit
houtt
hatempat
hy,
it'
shar
dtobeagr
eatPM.

J
OSHELMAN
Par
tneratGr
eyl
ock

Medi
a,Ar
t,andEnt
ert
ainment
Themedi
a,ar
t,ent
ert
ainmenti
ndus
tri
esar
enot
ori
ous
lydi
cul
ttobr
eaki
ntoandt
hri
vewi
thi
n.Luc
kil
y,we
gots
omegr
eatadv
icef
rom edi
tor
s,j
our
nal
i
sts
,l
mmak
ers
,poet
s,phot
ogr
apher
s,andmanager
sabout
s
urv
ivi
ngands
ucc
eedi
ngi
nthei
rchos
enel
ds.
Readonf
ormor
eoft
hei
rins
ight
s.

81
I
fyouwantat
opj
obi
njour
nal
is
m,devel
ops
ubj
ectmat
terexper
ti
se:
Thes
ecr
ett
oget
ti
ngagoodj
obi
njour
nal
i
smi
stodev
elops
ubj
ectmat
terex
per
ti
set
her
ear
elot
sof
peopl
eoutt
her
ewhoc
anwr
it
e,butnots
omanywhoknowwhatt
owr
it
eabout
.Il
andedmyr
stj
obbe-
c
aus
eIwasac
omput
erner
d;I
knewal
laboutt
ech,
soI
gothi
redbyani
nfor
mat
iont
echnol
ogymagaz
ine.
Wor
kingt
her
e,I
lear
nedaboutt
hec
ompani
est
hatmaket
ech,
andt
hatgotmeaj
obatFor
bes
.Iwor
ked
t
her
eforni
ney
ear
sbef
oreI
publ
i
shedmybook.
NowI
wri
tef
orl
otsofdi
er
entout
let
s,i
ncl
udi
ngFor
bes
,
andI
'
m al
sowor
kingonnewbookpr
ojec
ts.

DAVI
DEWAL
T
Aut
horofOfDi
ceandMen

Thebes
twayt
ogeti
ntot
hemedi
aandc
ommuni
cat
ionsbus
ines
s:
Got
othet
echni
cal
sideoft
hebus
ines
sri
ghtawayandl
ear
nasmuc
hasy
ouc
ans
inc
ethet
echni
cal
str
uc-
t
ureneedst
obeunder
stoodi
nor
dert
odev
elopnewbus
ines
sesormar
ketex
ist
ingonesi
nac
rowded,
c
hangi
ngmar
ket
plac
e.I
not
herwor
ds,
youneedt
obeast
echs
avv
yaspos
sibl
ebef
orey
oubr
eaki
ntos
ub-
s
etsl
i
kemar
ket
ing,
sal
es,
etc
.

BOBWRI
GHT
Co-
founderofAut
ism Speaks

Thebeaut
yandi
nsani
tyofbei
ngawr
it
er:
Ther
eisar
ush,
areal
deept
hri
l
l,wheny
our
eac
hreader
swhol
i
ket
hewor
k,gett
hes
tor
y,orev
enar
gue
wi
thy
ou.
Iti
sli
kenot
hingel
se.
Butt
ogett
othatpoi
nt,
youmays
pendaf
ewy
ear
sal
lal
one,
wonder
ingi
f
whaty
ouar
edoi
ngi
scr
azy
.

DAVI
DHOFFMAN
Aut
horofTheBi
l
li
onDol
l
arSpy

I
fyouwantt
ogeti
ntot
hemus
icbus
ines
s,under
standi
ndus
trydat
a:
I
fIwasan1
8-y
ear
-ol
dki
dent
eri
ngi
ntot
hemus
icbus
ines
stoday
,I'
dbel
ooki
ngathowdat
aisappl
i
cabl
eto
mus
ic.
It'
sthemos
tunt
appedar
eawi
thl
otsofpot
ent
ial
tobui
l
dnewbus
ines
sesandr
evenues
treamsf
or
ar
ti
st
s.I
t'
sther
stt
imei
nhi
st
oryweknowex
act
lywhot
hef
ansar
e,wher
etheyl
i
ve,
whoel
set
hey
'rel
i
sten-
i
ngt
o,andmos
timpor
tant
ly
,whatt
hei
rli
fet
imev
aluei
s.

TROYCARTER
I
nves
tor
,Gl
obalHeadofCr
eat
orSer
vicesatSpot
if
y

82
T
obeagoodj
our
nal
is
t,c
rit
icalt
hinki
ngi
samus
t:
Themos
timpor
tantt
hingaboutbei
ngagoodj
our
nal
i
sti
stheabi
l
it
ytot
hinkc
rit
ical
l
y.T
oomanyj
our
nal
i
sts
j
ustpar
rotwhatt
hey
'ret
old,
andt
hatki
ndofr
epor
ti
ngi
sus
eles
s,ev
enwheni
t'
sbeaut
if
ull
ywr
it
ten.
Agood
j
our
nal
i
stas
kst
her
ightques
ti
ons
,ndst
het
rut
hinas
tor
y,andt
ell
sther
eaderwhatmat
ter
s.Asanedi
tor
,I
c
ant
eac
hsomeonet
otobeagoodwr
it
er;
Icanc
ompos
eac
atc
hyheadl
i
nef
ort
hem;
Icanpunc
hupt
hei
r
c
opyunt
ili
tsi
ngs
.Ic
an'
ttur
nsomeonewi
thal
azymi
ndi
ntoac
rit
ical
thi
nker
.

DAVI
DEWAL
T
Aut
horofOfDi
ceandMen

At
reas
uret
roveofadvi
cef
orbuddi
ngper
for
mingar
ti
sts
:
1
.Regar
dyouraudi
ence.Seet
hem,chal
l
enget
hem,andcar
efort
hem.I
t'
smyj
ob[
asapoet
]tocur
atea
s
pacef
orempat
hy,i
nves
ti
gat
ion,andt
rans
par
ency
.
2.Don'
tbeaf
rai
dtobes
eenevenasyouar
etr
yingt
oseeot
her
s.
3.Per
for
m yourpoemsasi
fyou'
veneverhear
dthem bef
ore.T
ryt
ocr
eat
ewi
thi
nyour
sel
ftheex
per
ience
youhopet
ocr
eat
ewi
thi
ntheaudi
ence.
4.Al
l
owmoment
sforgr
ace.Youar
egoi
ngt
ofuckup,f
orgetal
i
ne,f
umbl
e,et
c.Al
l
owt
heaudi
encet
oex
pe-
r
iencet
hatki
ndofi
nti
macywi
thyou.I
t'
samomentf
ort
hem t
oseeyouashuman.
5.T
aket
imef
ors
elfcar
e.Don'
tj
ustr
eli
vet
raumaoverandoverf
ort
hes
akeoft
hepoem.

AL
YSI
AHARRI
S
Cr
eat
iveConsul
tant
,Poet
,Chr
ist
ian
83
Asawr
it
er,don
twai
tfori
nspi
rat
iont
ost
ri
ke:
I
fyouwai
tfori
nspi
rat
ion,
you'
l
lnev
ergetany
thi
ngdone.
Mos
toft
het
imei
t'
sas
log.
Buther
e'st
het
hing:
Somet
imesy
ou'
rei
nspi
redandc
rankoutwor
dsandot
hert
imesy
ouhav
etoghtf
orev
erys
ent
enc
e.I
fyou
l
ookbac
katt
hatwr
it
ingaweekl
ater
,youc
an'
ttel
lthedi
er
enc
ebet
weenwheny
ouwer
eins
pir
edand
wheny
ouwer
en'
t
.Thepoi
nti
s:Y
ourqual
i
tyofwr
it
ingi
sn'
tac
tual
l
yaec
tedbyy
ourl
evel
ofi
nspi
rat
ion.
Somet
imesy
ouhav
etoj
ustguti
tout
,buts
ti
ll
creat
equal
i
tywor
k.J
ustpr
esst
hrough.

ANDYWEI
R
Aut
horofTheMar
ti
an

Ther
ear
elot
sofpeopl
eoutt
herewhocanwr
it
e,butnot
s
omanywhoknowwhattowr
it
eabout.

DAVI
DEWAL
T

I
fyouwantt
ogeti
ntot
hes
por
tsbus
ines
s,gur
eouthowyou
regoi
ngt
o
bedi
er
ent:
Howdoy
ougeti
ntot
hebus
ines
sofs
por
tsandmakeenoughmoneyt
omakei
tac
areer
?Bes
opas
sionat
e
abouty
ourmi
ssi
onandabouty
ourdr
eam t
haty
oudon'
tsl
eepunt
ily
ougur
eouthowy
ouar
egoi
ngt
obe
di
er
ent
howy
ouar
egoi
ngt
opr
ovi
deaddedv
aluet
oat
eam,
anagenc
y,et
c.Gi
vent
henumberofpeopl
e
whowantt
owor
kins
por
ts,
hal
fthebat
tl
eisj
ammi
ngy
ourf
ooti
nthedoor
.Nev
erf
orgett
hat
.Get
ti
ngt
hat
f
ooti
nthedoori
sjus
tasi
mpor
tantashav
ingt
hegoodst
oshowwheny
ougeti
n.

DARRENROVELL
ESPNSpor
tsBus
ines
sRepor
ter

Youngac
tor
sshoul
dmaket
hingst
heywantt
obei
n:
Maket
het
hingsy
ouwantt
obei
n!Don'
twai
tar
ound.
Wai
ti
ngf
ort
hephonet
ori
ngwi
l
lgety
ounot
hing.
If
y
oudon'
tknowhowt
omakes
tu,
lear
n.Y
ous
houl
dbey
our#1f
an.

BRI
ANSACCA
Act
or,Pr
oducer
,Comedi
an

84
I
ncr
ediblej
our
nal
is
tsar
eac
uteobs
erver
s,c
leart
hinker
s,andpat
ient
s
tor
ytell
ers
:
Y
oumus
tbeanac
uteobs
erv
er,
inbot
hthephy
sic
alwor
ldandt
hel
esst
angi
ble.
Youmus
thav
eendl
esspa-
t
ienc
e,beabl
etowai
tunt
ilamomentr
eveal
sit
sel
f
,andbeabl
etos
itf
orhour
swi
thoutc
los
ingy
ournot
e-
book.
Youmus
tbeabl
etot
hinkc
lear
ly
,us
elogi
c,ands
omet
imesex
erc
ises
kept
ici
sms
oyouc
anas
k,
What
i
sreal
l
ygoi
ngonher
e?Y
ouhav
etobeabl
etoex
pres
syour
sel
fi
nwor
dst
hatar
eev
ocat
iveandc
ompel
l
ing
(
whi
chi
shar
d!)
.Andnal
l
y,i
thel
pst
ohav
eagoodi
magi
nat
ion.

DAVI
DHOFFMAN
Aut
horofTheBi
l
li
onDol
l
arSpy

Whats
epar
atesgr
eatphot
ogr
apher
sfr
om aver
agephot
ogr
apher
s:
T
oex
cel
int
hei
ndus
try
,youhav
etobeatt
opofy
ourgamet
echni
cal
l
y,buty
oual
soneedt
obeatt
het
opof
y
ourgameatev
ery
thi
ngel
set
hati
spot
ent
ial
l
yimpor
tantt
oyourc
li
ent
s.Gett
hebes
ttool
sfort
hephot
os
y
ouwantt
omake.
Gett
oknowy
ourc
amer
aandl
i
ght
sli
ket
hebac
kofy
ourhand.
Lear
ntomaket
echni
cal
l
y
s
oundphot
osi
nanys
it
uat
ion.
Wor
kfas
t,andbeni
mbl
e.Sel
lyour
sel
fandgooutofy
ourwayt
oex
plai
nyour
v
alueev
enwi
tht
hej
obi
nqui
ri
est
hatar
einbound.
Submi
twor
kwel
lbef
oredeadl
i
nes
.Showgenui
nei
nter
-
es
tint
hepeopl
ewhoar
ehi
ri
ngy
ouandmakef
ri
endswi
tht
hem.
Treatev
ery
oneony
ours
etl
i
keaki
ng,
in-
c
ludi
ngy
ouras
sis
tant
s.Bef
unt
obear
ound.
Beki
ndt
oev
ery
one.
Cons
tant
lybui
l
dandnur
tur
erel
ati
on-
s
hips
,car
eaboutpeopl
e,dof
avor
swi
thoutex
pec
tingany
thi
ngi
mmedi
atel
yinr
etur
n.I
fyouwantt
obet
he
bes
tint
hei
ndus
try
,youc
an'
thal
f-
assany
thi
ng.
Youhav
etoex
ceedex
pec
tat
ionsonev
eryf
rontory
ouar
e
pot
ent
ial
l
yrepl
aceabl
e.

HELENAPRI
CE
Phot
ogr
apher

I
fyouwantt
obeal
mmaker
,getons
etass
oonaspos
sibl
e:
Gety
our
sel
font
oapr
ofes
sional
lmmaki
ngs
etass
oonaspos
sibl
e.Ther
eisnos
ubs
ti
tut
efort
hei
nspi
rat
ion
andeduc
ati
ont
hatc
omesf
rom wat
chi
ngpeopl
ewhoar
ereal
l
ygoodatwhatt
heydowor
kingqui
ckl
yand
eec
tiv
ely
,anddoi
ngwhatt
heyl
ove.

ADAM LI
SAGOR
FounderofSandwi
chVi
deo

85
 CHAPTER 15

Overcoming
Career
Chall
enges
Nomat t
erwhatc
areerpathyouchoose,youwilli
nevi
tabl
yfaceyourshar
eof
prof
essi
onalc
hal
lengesal
ongtheway .I
nthi
ss ecti
on,
tenProductHuntLI
VEChat
guest
ssharehowtheyoverc
amet hei
rownf earsandchal
lenges
andhowy ou
candothesameony ourownjourney
.
86
Avoi
dtaki
ngaj
obj
ustbec
aus
eyouneedt
hemoney:
Ear
lyoni
nmyc
areer
,It
ookaj
obbec
aus
eIneededt
hemoney
.Itc
ostmedear
ly
.

CASEY NEI
STAT
Di
rect
or,Pr
oducer
,YouTuber

87
Chal
lengesar
eonl
ysc
aryunt
ilyout
ackl
ethem:
Ther
ehav
ebeens
omanys
car
ychal
l
enges
.IfI
wer
etor
etr
acemys
teps
,itwass
car
ytoc
omeoutt
othe
wes
tcoas
twher
eIknewnoone.
Then,
itwass
car
ytos
ti
ckt
ocomput
ers
cienc
eatSt
anf
orddes
pit
eitbei
ng
r
eal
l
yhar
dandmef
eel
i
ngi
mpos
tors
yndr
omec
ons
tant
ly
.Then,
itwass
car
ytodos
omet
hingt
otal
l
ydi
er
ent
andot
hebeat
ent
rac
kandgetahumani
ti
esgr
aduat
edegr
eeatOx
for
d.Mos
trec
ent
ly
,qui
tt
ingmys
ecur
e
j
obatSal
esf
orc
e.c
om i
nthemi
dstofar
eces
siont
ofoundac
ompanywaspr
ett
ysc
ary
,too.
Thet
hingi
s,
onc
eyout
akeonas
car
ychal
l
enge,
your
eal
i
zei
t'
snots
osc
aryaf
teral
l
,andt
hatembol
densy
out
otakeon
anev
ens
car
ierc
hal
l
enge.

CLARASHI
H
FounderofHear
saySys
tems

Pos
iti
onper
cei
vedweaknes
sesass
trengt
hs:
I
alway
sli
ket
oshar
ethaty
ouc
ant
akes
omeofwhatar
eper
cei
vedt
obey
ourbi
gges
tweaknes
sesandpul
l
aj
edi
-mi
ndt
ri
ck,
tur
ningt
hem i
ntoy
ourbi
gges
tst
rengt
hs.
Age,
fori
nst
anc
e,c
anbeper
cei
vedasaweak-
nes
s,buti
tcanal
sobeas
trengt
h;peopl
eex
pec
tyout
obei
nnov
ati
ve,
ener
get
ic,
andof
tenunder
est
imat
e
y
ouent
ir
ely
.Youc
ant
akeal
otofpeopl
ebys
urpr
ise.
You'
real
sodi
git
all
ynat
ive,
soy
ous
eei
deasbas
edon
c
ons
umerbehav
iort
rendsandhabi
tst
hatot
her
smaymi
ss.

BRI
ANWONG
FounderofKi
i
p

Oncey
outakeonas car
ychall
enge,your
eal
i
zeit
's
nots
oscaryaft
eral
l
,andthatemboldensy
outot
ake
onanevenscari
erc
hall
enge.

CLARASHI
H

Don
tbeatyour
sel
fupaboutyourmi
stakes
:
I
madeev
erypos
sibl
ecar
eermi
st
akey
ouc
oul
dmake.
Beat
ingmy
sel
fupabouti
tiswhatI
wis
hIhadnot
done.
It
sawas
teoft
imeandener
gy.

J
ONSTEI
NBERG
Co-
founderofCheddar

88
Ont
hec
hal
lengesofr
ais
ingc
api
tal
:
Whenwewentoutt
orai
semoneyf
orTwi
l
ioi
nthes
ummerof2008,
ourpl
anwast
orai
seas
eedr
oundand
t
henl
aunc
h,butwec
oul
dn'
trai
seadi
me.
Par
ti
all
y,i
twasduet
othenanc
ial
mel
tdownbutal
otofi
nves
-
t
orsal
sodi
dn'
tunder
standourdev
eloper
-r
stappr
oac
h.Thef
ounder
shadav
erys
eri
ousc
onv
ers
ati
on
wher
eweas
kedeac
hot
herwhet
herwes
houl
dthr
owi
nthet
owel
whet
hert
hiswasabadi
dea.
Butc
us-
t
omer
swer
esay
ingwewer
eont
her
ightt
rac
k,andourc
onv
ict
ions
aidwewer
ebui
l
dingt
hec
ompanyt
hat
wewant
edt
obui
l
d.So,
weper
sis
ted,
butt
hatwasat
oughdec
isi
on.
Wewer
eal
mos
t12mont
hsi
nwi
thno
s
alar
iesandi
nves
tor
ssay
ingwewer
edoi
ngi
twr
ong.

Oneoft
hepeopl
eIs
pokewi
thi
nthatear
lys
eedr
oundwasMi
tchKapor
.Hedec
li
nedt
oinv
est
,andadv
ised
met
ogets
omebodywhoc
oul
dhel
pwi
thourgo-
to-
mar
kets
trat
egy
.Att
het
ime,
Idi
dn'
tknowwhatt
hatev
en
meant
,soI
askedhi
m whoI
shoul
dget
.Hes
aid:
Dav
eMc
Clur
e.I
wentout
,rec
rui
tedDav
easanadv
isor
,
t
hengothi
mtoac
tual
l
yinv
est
.Si
xmont
hsl
ater
,Imar
chedbac
kint
oMi
tch'
soc
e,br
oughtDav
ewi
thme,
ands
aid,
Idi
dwhaty
ous
ugges
ted.
Her
e'sDav
e.Wi
l
lyoui
nves
tnow?
Hedi
d.Thatf
eltgood.

J
EFFLAWSON
Co-
founderofTwi
l
io

Youhavet
ocons
tant
lyt
aker
iskst
oremai
nrel
evant
:
Si
l
iconVal
l
eyi
sint
eres
ti
ngi
nthati
toper
atesi
n5-
7year
rel
evanc
ec
ycl
es.
Inot
herwor
ds,
thepeopl
erel
e-
v
anti
nonec
ycl
e(ex
cludi
ngt
heLar
ryPagesoft
hewor
ld)t
endt
olos
erel
evanc
eint
henex
tcy
cle.
Thehar
d
par
tist
oas
khowy
ouc
ans
tayr
elev
antov
ert
hear
cofa20,
30,
40y
earc
areeri
ntheBayAr
ea.
Simi
l
arl
y,
aspeopl
egai
nweal
th,
theyt
endt
olos
ehunger
.Sot
heys
lowdownands
topt
ryi
ngt
ober
elev
ant
.Ass
uch,
peopl
eneedt
otaker
isksev
ery5-
7year
stor
emai
nrel
evant
,whi
chmeanss
wit
chi
ngi
ndus
tri
es,
try
ingnew
r
oles
,orgoi
ngf
ors
omet
hingbi
g.

ELADGI
L
AngelI
nves
tor
,Co-
founderofCol
orGenomi
cs

Ov erti
me,
you'
ll
devel
opwis
dom ar
oundwhi
ch
r
eject
ionmoment
stobrus
ho,andwhi
cht
oli
stent
o.
J
EFFLAWSON

89
Doyourbes
ttomai
ntai
naheal
thywor
k-l
if
ebal
anc
e:
I
regr
etnothav
ingmor
ebal
anc
einmyl
i
fef
ort
her
stv
eyear
sofRoc
kHeal
th.
Iwaswor
kingt
ir
eles
slyt
o
i
mpr
oveheal
thc
are,
butwasnegl
ect
ingmyownment
alandphy
sic
alheal
th.
Iwas
n'ts
pendi
ngenought
ime
wi
thf
ri
endsandf
ami
l
y,orj
ustt
aki
ngt
imef
ormy
sel
f
.It
houghtaboutwor
kev
erywaki
ngmoment
,and
dr
eamtabouti
tnear
lyev
eryni
ght
.Whenmydadhadahear
tat
tac
k,I
hadabunc
hofmeet
ingsi
nSFs
oI
di
dn'
tgohomet
oOhi
otos
eehi
m.ThatwaswhenI
wokeupandr
eal
i
zedt
hatI
was
n'tbei
ngt
heper
sonI
want
edt
obe.
Imov
edt
otheeas
tcoas
ttobewi
thmyhus
bandands
tar
tedr
eal
l
ywor
kingonwor
k-l
i
febal
-
anc
e.Sof
ar,
Ifeel
alotbet
teraboutt
hings
.

HALLETECCO
FounderofRockHeal
th,AngelI
nves
tor

Phot
obyAr
m

I
fyour
eanentrepr
eneur
,layi
ngpeopl
eowi
llbeoneoft
het
oughes
t
t
hingsyoudo:
Mos
tchal
l
engi
ngmoment
:Ther
ear
etoomanyt
opi
ckone.Ar
eal
l
ycl
osecol
l
abor
atordi
edver
ysuddenl
y
whenwewer
ebot
hver
yyoung,dur
ingPayPal
.Havi
ngt
odoal
ayoatSl
i
de[
wasal
sohar
d]l
ooki
ng
peopl
eint
heeyes
,andadmi
tt
ingt
hatI
,ast
heCEO,s
crewedup.Youover
comebybei
nghones
tnomat
ter
howmuchi
thur
tswi
thyour
sel
f
,set
ti
ngacour
se,andex
ecut
ing.

MAXLEVCHI
N
Co-
founderofPayPalandAr
m
90
Wes
houl
dst
opt
ell
ingoneanot
hert
hatf
ail
urei
sgood:
Someoner
ecent
lys
aidt
ome
m,
It
'sokay
,fai
l
urei
sgood!
AndI
sai
dtot
hatper
son,
No,
fai
l
urei
snotgood.
Fai
l
urei
sbad.
Fai
l
urei
sdeat
h,dependenc
y,pr
ison,
lonel
i
nes
s.Ov
erc
omi
ngf
ail
urei
sgood.
Over
comi
ng
f
ail
urei
sfabul
ous
.Butov
erc
omi
ngf
ail
urei
soneoft
hec
omponent
sofs
ucc
ess
.SoI
thi
nkt
hatt
hegos
pel
of
f
ail
urei
sami
st
akengos
pel
.AndI
thi
nkf
ort
hepeopl
ewhof
ail
themos
twhof
ail
sys
temat
ical
l
y,whodi
s-
pr
opor
ti
onat
elyf
ail
say
ingf
ail
urei
sgoodi
sn'
tal
lthathel
pful
.Say
ingt
othem,
Youwi
l
lev
ent
ual
l
ysuc
ceed,

i
scr
it
ical
.I
tal
l
owspeopl
etoov
erc
omewhent
heyf
ail
.Gi
vi
ngpeopl
ethec
ondenc
etoov
erc
omef
ail
urei
s
whatI
'
m mos
tpas
sionat
eabout
.

KANYIMAQUBELA
For
mer
lyVCatCol
l
abor
ati
veFund

Fi
ndi
nganemot
ionals
uppor
tnet
wor
kiskey:
Ther
ewasaper
iodoft
imewher
eIdes
per
atel
ywant
edt
oqui
tthet
echi
ndus
tryands
topbei
ngas
oft
war
e
engi
neer
notbec
aus
eIdi
dn'
tl
oveengi
neer
ing,
butbec
aus
eIwasf
rus
trat
edanddepr
ess
edaboutbei
nga
f
emal
eengi
neerandnotbel
ongi
ngnotf
eel
i
ngl
i
keI
'
dev
erbes
ucc
ess
ful
ins
uchamal
e-domi
nat
edi
ndus
try
.
I
cri
edmy
sel
ftos
leepev
eryni
ght
.Iev
ent
ual
l
ymadei
tthr
oughbec
aus
eIr
eac
hedoutandf
oundwonder
ful
l
y
s
uppor
ti
vewomenwhos
har
edt
hei
rex
per
ienc
eswi
thmeandhel
pedmet
ogett
hroughi
tal
l
.Thatemot
ional
s
uppor
tnet
wor
khasbeenabs
olut
elykey
.

TRACYCHOU
Ear
lyPi
nter
estEngi
neer
,Co-
founderofPr
ojectI
ncl
ude

Over
comi
ngr
ejec
tion:
Rej
ect
ioni
stough,
buti
t'
ssomet
hingy
ougetac
cus
tomedt
oasanent
repr
eneur
.Jus
tdon'
ttakei
tper
sonal
l
y.
Beopent
oseei
ngt
rends
fori
nst
anc
e,i
fmanyc
ust
omer
sdon'
twanty
ourpr
oduc
t,ori
fmanyempl
oyees
hav
econc
ernsabouty
ourl
eader
shi
pst
yle,
yous
houl
dli
st
ent
othat
.Ov
ert
ime,
you'
l
ldev
elopwi
sdom
ar
oundwhi
chr
ejec
tionmoment
stobr
usho,
andwhi
cht
oli
st
ent
o.

J
EFFLAWSON
Co-
founderofTwi
l
io

91
 CHAPTER 16

WhatAdvice
WouldYouGi ve
YourYoungerSelf
Oneofthemos tcommonques ti
onsProductHuntLiveguest
sgetas kediswhat
advi
cetheywouldtell
thei
ryoungerselv
es .WhatwouldZapposCEOT onyHsieh
wis
hhehadknownatage20?Whatwoul dKaraSwi s
hert
ellheryoungersel
f?
Woulda25y ear-
oldOm Malikactanydierent
lyt
hanhedoest oday?Hereshow
someofourguestsrespondedtowhenf acedwiththequest
ion:
92
 Phot
ocour
tes
yofKar
aSwi
sher

I
hat
etos
ayt
his
,butI
am nott
hatdi
er
ent[
thanI
waswhenI
wasy
ounger
].I
hav
e
t
houghtev
erydayaboutl
i
vingmyl
i
feev
erydayasi
fi
twoul
dbemyl
ast
,andI
sti
l
ldo.
I
thi
nkI
woul
dpr
obabl
ywor
ryal
otl
essaboutac
hiev
ementandmor
eaboutr
esul
t.

KARA SWI
SHER
Co-
founder&Ex
ecut
iveEdi
torofRecode

93
Beunapol
oget
ical
l
ytr
uet
oyour
sel
f(bot
hinbus
ines
sandi
nli
fe)
,andi
fyouar
econs
tant
lybr
oadc
ast
ingwho
y
ouar
et
her
eal
you,
thei
nnery
out
othewor
ld,
overt
imey
ourpeopl
ewi
l
lndy
ou.

TONYHSI
EH
CEO ofZappos

Readasmuc
h,doasmuc
h,andex
per
ienc
easmuc
haspos
sibl
e.I
t'
syourj
obt
odot
hingst
hatmakey
ouun-
c
omf
ort
abl
e.Thati
showy
ougai
nwi
sdom.
Iti
syourj
obt
ous
eev
ery
thi
ngy
oudoasal
ear
ningoppor
tuni
ty
,
andt
oseehowt
hingsar
econnec
ted.
Thati
showy
oubui
l
dcr
eat
ivi
ty
.Iti
syourj
obt
olear
nandt
ost
udyas
muc
haboutt
hewor
ldaspos
sibl
el
i
feonl
yget
sbus
ierandy
oual
way
sdef
aul
ttoy
ourmos
tbas
icl
evel
of
t
rai
ning.
Seekoutoppor
tuni
ti
est
hatex
pir
ebot
hpr
ofes
sional
l
yandper
sonal
l
y.

MARCELASAPONE
Co-
founderofHel
l
oAl
fr
ed

I
woul
dtel
lay
oungermet
oas
kforhel
pmor
eof
ten.
I'
vebeenl
uckyt
obes
urr
oundedwi
thamaz
ingl
ytal
ent
-
eddes
igner
sandbui
l
der
s,andI
coul
dhav
elear
neds
omuc
hmor
efr
om t
hem ear
li
eri
nmyc
areeri
fIhadn'
t
beenaf
rai
dtoas
k.

J
ULI
EZHUO
Di
rect
orofPr
oductDes
ignatFacebook

It
'sy
ourj
obt
odot
hingst
hatmakey
ouunc
omf
ort
abl
e.
Thati
showy
ougai
nwi
sdom.

MARCELASAPONE

I
thi
nkt
hatwhatj
ustaboutev
ery22-
year
-ol
dneedsi
smor
econdenc
e.I
t'
seas
ytol
ookatpeopl
ewhoar
e
ol
derandt
hinkt
hey
'res
mar
ter
,whent
het
rut
hist
hey
'vej
usthadmor
eti
met
olear
nthany
ouandmor
eim-
por
tant
ly
,mor
eti
met
ogai
ncondenc
e,whi
chal
way
smakesy
ous
eem s
mar
tert
hany
ouar
e.

CHRI
STOPHERMI
MS
T
echCol
umni
statt
heWal
lSt
reetJ
our
nal

94
Spendmor
eti
mewi
tht
hepeopl
ewhomat
tert
oyou,
bec
aus
etheywon'
tbear
oundf
orev
er.
Spendl
esst
ime
wor
ryi
ngaboutwhet
hert
hingswi
l
lwor
kout
,bec
aus
etheywi
l
l.

AVI
CHALGARG
Pr
oductManageratFacebook

What
every
ouwantt
odo,
star
tyes
ter
day
.St
artear
li
er.
Star
tNOW.
Thes
oonery
ous
tar
t,t
hes
oonery
ouc
an
r
eapt
hebenet
s,orgur
eoutt
hati
tis
n'tgoi
ngt
owor
k.Andy
ouwon'
tneedt
owonder
whati
fbec
aus
e
y
oudi
dital
ready
.

J
EFFATWOOD
Co-
founderofSt
ackEx
changeandDi
scour
se

St
opov
erv
alui
ngt
hef
actt
haty
ou'
reas
mar
tyoungguy
.Ther
eat
onofs
mar
tyoungguy
s,andonav
erage,
t
hey
'renotv
eryt
hought
ful
anddon'
tl
is
tenwel
l
.St
opbei
ngThatGuy
.

ANI
LDASH
CEO ofFogCr
eek

Spendl
esst
imewor
ryi
ngaboutwhet
hert
hingswi
l
l
wor
kout
,bec
aus
etheywi
l
l.

AVI
CHALGARG

Beokaywi
tht
hingsbui
l
dingupov
ert
ime.
Somet
hingI
didn'
tappr
eci
ateunt
ilr
ecent
lyi
sthatt
her
eanymany
pr
oduc
tiv
edec
adesaheadwi
thwhi
cht
obui
l
dthet
hingst
hatI
feel
needt
oex
isti
nthewor
ld.
Oneoft
he
bes
tthi
ngsI
didt
henwasav
oidanypr
essorc
api
tal
i
zat
iononmyage(
tot
heex
tentI
coul
d)bec
aus
eyout
h
i
sanephemer
alas
setandj
ustanov
elt
yinbus
ines
s.I

dal
sot
ell
myy
oungers
elft
osl
owdownandt
hink
aboutheal
thmor
e.

MATTMULLENWEG
Co-
founderofWor
dPr
ess

95
Res
pec
tthos
ewi
thex
per
ienc
e,as
kmor
eques
ti
ons
,andbemor
eopent
olear
nfr
om t
hem.

OM MALI
K
Par
tneratTr
ueVent
ures
,FounderofGi
gaom

Keepwor
kinghar
d,butt
obei
ntent
ional
aboutt
het
imey
ou'
res
pendi
ngonwor
kver
suspl
ay,
aswel
laswho
y
ou'
res
pendi
ngt
imewi
th.
Someoner
ecent
lygav
emeaus
eful
framewor
kthatmayhel
pyouc
ons
idert
he
peopl
eyoui
nter
actwi
th:
1sar
epeopl
eyoul
ovebei
ngwi
th,
thatgi
vey
ouener
gy,
thatmakey
ouex
cit
ed
aboutl
i
fe.
3sar
epeopl
ethatj
ustt
akeandnev
ergi
ve;
theydr
ainy
ou.
2sar
einbet
ween.
Onl
yspendt
ime
wi
th1
s.

TRACYCHOU
Ear
lyPi
nter
estEngi
neer
,Co-
founderofPr
ojectI
ncl
ude

Dowhat
every
ou'
l
lwi
shy
ou'
ddonewhenl
ooki
ngbac
kinadec
ade.
Thi
sappl
i
esbot
htomaj
ordec
isi
ons
andi
nhowy
ouac
tyour
sel
fandhowy
out
reatot
her
s.Bonus
:Beni
ce.
Nic
enes
s,i
nmyopi
nion,
isunder
rat
ed
(
probabl
ybec
aus
eit
'
shar
dtomeas
ure)
,buthashi
ghl
ycompoundi
ngbenet
s.

PATRI
CKCOLLI
SON
Co-
founderofSt
ri
pe

Star
tyes
ter
day
.St
artear
li
er.
Star
tNOW.
Thes
ooner
y
ous
tar
t,t
hes
oonery
ouc
anr
eapt
hebenet
s.

J
EFFATWOOD

I
fIc
oul
dgobac
kint
ime,
I
dint
roduc
emy20-
year
-ol
dsel
ftoaquot
ati
onbyt
hewr
it
erBr
ianAndr
eas
:Ev
-
er
ythi
ngc
hangedt
hedays
hegur
edoutt
her
ewasex
act
lyenought
imef
ort
hei
mpor
tantt
hingsi
nherl
i
fe.

I
fonl
yIhadl
ear
nedt
hisl
ess
ons
ooner
!ButI
hopet
hatbys
har
ingi
ther
e,I
canmakeadi
er
enc
eins
ome-
oneel
se
sli
fe,
ands
avet
hem f
rom t
heper
pet
ual
l
yhar
ri
ed,
str
ess
ed-
outex
ist
enc
eIex
per
ienc
edf
ors
olong.

ARI
ANNAHUFFI
NGTON
Co-
founderofTheHungt
onPos
t,Aut
hor

96
1
.Fi
ndyourt
ri
bet
hepeopl
eyouwantt
obui
l
dyourl
i
feandc
areerwi
thandt
reatt
hem i
ncr
edi
blywel
l
.
Dot
2. hingst
hatmakeyours
ouls
ingndt
het
hingst
hatgi
vey
our
eal
joybec
aus
ethatwi
l
lpus
hyou
t
hrought
hehar
dert
imes
.
Makemor
3. ethi
ngs
maki
ngi
sav
eryv
erys
pec
ial
gif
t&pr
ivi
l
ege.
Doi
tasl
ongasy
ouc
an.

J
OHNLI
LLY
Par
tneratGr
eyl
ock

97
 Phot
ocour
tes
yofT
onyRobbi
ns

Ac
ommuni
tyc
hatwi
th
T
onyRobbi
ns
T
onyRobbi
nsi
sunques
ti
onabl
yoneoft
hemos
tpr
oli
cands
ucc
ess
ful
mot
ivat
ional
s
peaker
sandl
i
feper
for
manc
ecoac
hesoft
hepas
tcent
ury
.He
saut
hor
edf
ourbes
tsel
l
ing
books
,inc
ludi
nghi
smos
trec
entt
ome,
MONEYMas
tert
heGame.

Robbi
nsi
spr
obabl
ymos
tknownf
orhi
smot
ivat
ional
semi
nar
s,wher
ehec
ant
alkons
tage
f
ordoz
ensofhour
s(we
repar
chedj
ustt
hinki
ngabouti
t)aboutt
het
rans
for
mat
ional
power
ofone
sthought
s.Wi
thal
lofhi
sex
per
ienc
eandpas
sionf
orc
onv
eyi
nghi
smes
sagev
ia
publ
i
cspeaki
ng,
it
snos
urpr
isehe
sgi
venoneoft
hemos
t-wat
chedTEDt
alkson
Whywe
dowhatwedo,
vi
ewedov
er1
5.5mi
l
li
ont
imes
.

98
Whatar
eyourt
opt
wopubl
ics
peaki
ngt
ips
?
BENDEBAYLE
My#1s
peaki
ngt
ipf
orany
onei
sst
opt
hinki
ngabouty
our
sel
f
.Mos
tpeopl
eex
per
ienc
eenor
mouss
tres
sor
ev
enf
earwhent
heyar
eaboutt
ospeakt
oanaudi
enc
eofanys
ize.
Ther
eas
onf
ort
hisi
sthatt
hey
ref
o-
c
usedonhowt
heyar
edoi
ngandhowt
hey
regoi
ngt
ocomeac
ros
s.I
fins
tead,
youc
anputal
lofy
ourf
ocus
i
ntoy
ouraudi
enc
eandbepr
esentwi
tht
hem,
foc
usi
ngc
ompl
etel
yont
hei
rneeds
,des
ires
,andc
onc
erns
,
t
heny
ouwi
l
lbegui
dedt
ospont
aneous
lys
hif
tyours
peaki
ngc
onv
ers
ati
oni
nawayt
hatt
rul
ymeet
sthe
needsofy
ouraudi
enc
e.Mor
eimpor
tant
ly
,youwi
l
lbef
ocus
edons
erv
ingt
hem andnotony
our
sel
f
,ands
o
y
ou
l
lhav
enof
ear
.

Mys
econdt
ipi
stoov
erpr
epar
ebyt
rul
yst
udy
ingy
ouraudi
enc
einadv
anc
eofy
ours
peec
h.Doy
ourhome-
wor
ktodi
scov
ert
hei
rdeepes
tdes
iresandbi
gges
tconc
erns
.Andt
henf
ormul
ateapl
anf
orhowt
oser
ve
t
hem bet
tert
hanany
oneel
sehasbef
ore.
Ibel
i
evet
hatl
i
fei
sfoundi
nthedanc
ebet
weenwhatwedes
ire
mos
tandwhatwef
earmos
t.Hel
ppeopl
ewi
tht
hos
etwot
hingsandy
ouwi
l
lsuc
ceedwi
thanygr
oup.

My#1s peaki
ngtipforany
onei
sst
op
t
hinki
ngaboutyours
elf.

Whati
sthebes
tpi
eceofadvi
ceyouhaveeverbeengi
ven?
ALEXFI
NKI
ELSZTEI
N
That

sat
oughques
ti
onbec
aus
emyl
i
fei
scons
tant
lyaboutget
ti
ngadv
icef
rom t
hebes
tint
hewor
ld.
Buti
fI
hadt
onar
rowi
tdown,
Iwoul
dsayt
wopi
ecesofadv
ice.
#1[
comesf
rom]myor
igi
nal
ment
or,
Jim Rohn.
He
t
aughtmet
hatt
hes
ecr
ett
oli
fei
stondawayt
odomor
eforot
her
sthanany
oneel
sei
sdoi
ng.
Ify
ouwant
t
obeex
traor
dinar
yasaf
ri
endorbus
ines
sper
son,
asaf
atheroral
over
,ndawayt
oaddmor
eval
uees
-
pec
ial
l
ytot
hos
eyoul
ovet
hemos
t.I

m obs
ess
edbyt
hisf
ocus
,andI
real
l
ybel
i
evei
t
sthes
ecr
ett
onotonl
y
weal
th,
butr
eal
las
ti
nghappi
nes
s.I
nmys
oul
Ibel
i
evet
hes
ecr
ett
oli
vi
ngi
sgi
vi
ng.

Thes
econdpi
eceofadv
icec
amef
rom amanwhoatt
het
imewast
her
iches
tmani
nCanadaabr
il
li
ant
bus
ines
sman,
bil
l
ionai
re,
andent
repr
eneur
.Het
aughtmet
hatpr
oxi
mit
yispower
.Het
oldmeatt
het
imet
hat
i
fIwant
edt
omakeamov
ie,
itwoul
dbeeas
ybec
aus
eIhads
omanyc
li
ent
swhower
epr
oduc
ers
,ac
tor
s,
andheadsofs
tudi
os;
I
m ar
oundt
hem al
lthet
ime.
Inf
act
,theyputmei
nadoz
enmov
iesatt
hatt
ime,
wit
h-
outmyev
enas
king,
bec
aus
eIwasi
nthei
rpr
oxi
mit
y.Hes
aid,
Ify
ouwant
edt
omakeadeal
atI
BM,
you

99
c
oul
dpr
obabl
ymakei
twor
k,buti
twoul
dbeal
othar
derbec
aus
eyou
renoti
npr
oxi
mit
y.
Inor
dert
ogetmy
nanc
ial
goal
s,het
aughtmet
ogeti
npr
oxi
mit
ywi
thi
nves
tmentbanker
s.Twoy
ear
slat
er,
Imadeadeal
that
waswor
th$400mi
l
li
ont
ome,
taki
ngac
ompanypubl
i
c!Pr
oxi
mit
yispower
rememberi
t,appl
yit
.Itwi
l
l
c
hangey
ourl
i
fe.

Thesecr
ettoli
feist
ondawaytodo
mor
eforot
hersthananyoneel
sei
sdoi
ng.

Whatdoesyourdai
lyr
outinel
ookli
ke?Howdoyougetthedays
tar
ted
r
ightandst
il
lhol
dposit
ivesus
tai
nabil
it
ytot
heendofday?
MARI
AGOSUR
I
star
tev
erydaybyj
umpi
ngi
nfr
eez
ingc
oldwat
er!
:)I
nal
lofmyhomes
,Iei
therhav
eac
oldpl
unget
hatI
keepat56degr
ees
,orher
einSunVal
l
eywher
eIam now,
Ihav
ether
iver
,whi
chI
jumpi
nev
eni
nthe
wi
nter
!Idot
hisasadai
l
ypr
act
ice,
asadi
sci
pli
net
omakemymi
ndknowt
hatwhenI
sayI

m goi
ngt
odo
s
omet
hing,
Idoi
tnow!
Nomat
terhowdi
cul
titmays
eem.
Ital
sohasamaz
ingphy
sic
alv
aluef
ort
hebody
.
Ev
eryc
ell
,ner
ve,
mus
clei
nyourbody
,pumpsl
i
kec
raz
ywheny
oumaket
hatr
adi
cal
ofat
emper
atur
e
c
hange.
Itmov
esy
ourl
ymphandmakesy
our
eadyf
orany
thi
ng.
Compl
etel
yinv
igor
ati
ng.

Whatar
esomeex
erc
isest
ohel
pyouwor
koni
ntr
ospec
tion?
DAVI
DMCGRAW
Af
terI

m donewi
thmyear
lymor
ningc
oldpl
unge,
Iimmedi
atel
ysi
tdownf
or20mi
nut
esofwhatI
cal
lPr
ime
Ti
me.
Idon
thopet
hatI

m goi
ngt
ohav
eagr
eatper
spec
tiv
eont
heday
;Ipr
imemyner
vouss
yst
em:
Ipr
e-
par
eit
,andI
trai
nit
,fort
heper
spec
tiv
eIwant
.Idot
hisbys
it
ti
ngdownanddoi
ngani
ntens
ebr
eat
hingpat
-
t
ernt
hatc
hangesmys
tat
eev
enmor
e.Fundament
all
y,i
t
srai
si
ngmyar
msupt
othes
kyasI
takeadeep
br
eat
hint
hroughmynos
e,andt
henex
plodi
ngmyar
msandl
egsdown,
for
cingal
ltheai
rfr
om mys
tomac
h
t
hrought
hebac
kofmys
pineandt
hroughmynos
ewi
thi
ntens
it
y.I
dot
hrees
etsoft
enoft
hes
ety
pesof
br
eat
h.Then,
Ipaus
eandex
per
ienc
ethec
hangei
nmybodyandmi
nd,
andf
eel
thes
ens
eofpeac
e.I
con-
t
inuet
hes
ethr
ees
etsoft
enwi
thpaus
est
hreet
imes
.

1
00
I
thent
akeami
nimum oft
enmi
nut
esus
ual
l
ytwent
yands
omet
imesasl
ongas3540mi
nut
esanddo
t
hes
ethr
eet
hings
:It
aket
hreemi
nut
est
ofoc
usont
hreet
hingsI

m deepl
ygr
atef
ulf
orandI
deepl
yas
soc
i-
at
etot
hef
eel
i
ngofgr
ati
tudef
ort
hos
epeopl
eorex
per
ienc
esi
nmyl
i
fe.
Itaket
hreemi
nut
esandI
askf
ora
bl
ess
ingt
hatev
ery
thi
ngt
hatneedst
obes
olv
edi
ssol
vedandt
henI
askf
orabl
ess
ingf
oral
lthos
ethatI
knowandl
ove,
from myf
ami
l
yandf
ri
endst
omyc
li
ent
s,t
hatt
heyex
per
ienc
ethes
amebl
ess
ing.
Final
l
y,I
t
aket
hreemi
nut
esandf
ocusonmy
Thr
eet
oThr
ive.
If
ocusont
hreet
hingsI
wantt
oac
compl
i
sh;
Isee
t
hem asdoneandI
feel
grat
eful
fort
hem.
Thi
sset
smeupf
ort
hedayandpr
ovi
desaper
spec
tiv
etodeal
wi
thanyc
hal
l
enge,
aswel
lasas
tat
eoff
ull
l
menti
nal
lthatI
exper
ienc
e.

Li
fei
sfoundi
nthedanc
ebet
weenwhat
wedesir
emostandwhatwef
earmos
t.

Ihave$100,
000i ncas
haver
ygoodc
redi
tsc
orewi
thnodebtwher
edo
yousuggestIputit
?
MI
KE
Pl
eas
ereadmybook!
Ther
eisnoonepl
acey
ous
houl
dputt
hismoney
.Ify
oudo,
that

sthebi
gges
tmi
st
ake
ofy
ourl
i
fe.
Ital
kedt
oRayDal
i
o,t
hemanmanyc
all
edt
heL
eonar
dodaVi
nci
orSt
eveJ
obsofi
nves
tor
s;he
hast
hel
arges
thedgef
undi
nthewor
ld(
abi
gonemi
ghthav
e$1
5Bi
nas
set
s;RayDal
i
oshas$1
65Bt
en
t
imest
hes
ize!
)
.Het
oldmewhathe
slear
nedi
sthatnomat
terhows
mar
tyout
hinky
ouar
e,mar
ket
sar
e
al
way
schangi
ng.

Sohowhashepr
oduc
eda21
%ret
urnpr
iort
ofeesov
ert
hel
astt
woandahal
fdec
ades
?He
sgur
edouta
s
trat
egyt
ounder
standhowt
omakemoneyi
nanys
eas
on,
anyenv
ironment
.He
sfamousf
orwhat

sknown
ast
he
All
Weat
her
st
rat
egy
,andhe
snev
err
eveal
edt
heex
actper
cent
agesoft
hatdi
ver
sic
ati
ons
trat
egy
bef
ore.
Inf
act
,youhadt
ohav
ea$5Bnetwor
thandgi
vehi
m $1
00M j
ustt
ost
artt
eny
ear
sago.
Butt
oday
,
nomat
terhowr
ichy
ouar
e,hewon
tmanagemoneyf
ory
ou.
Hisf
undi
scl
osedt
oout
si
der
s.

I
per
suadedhi
mtos
har
ewi
thmet
heac
tual
number
soft
hiss
trat
egyandi
t
sint
hebook.
It
swor
thac
hap-
t
er
sread!
Whenbac
ktes
tedov
ert
hel
ast75y
ear
s,i
t
smademoney85%oft
het
imeandt
hel
arges
tlos
s
wasonl
y-3.
95%!
It
sav
erager
etur
nhasbeenj
ustunder1
0%.
Iwoul
dn
tputal
lyourmoneyi
nany
thi
ng,
in-
c
ludi
ngt
hiss
trat
egy
,butt
hebooks
howsy
oual
lthec
hoi
cesy
ouhav
einhowt
opr
otec
tyour
sel
faswel
las
max
imi
zey
ourpot
ent
ial
ret
urns
.Noneoft
hebooki
smyopi
nion.
It
sal
ldr
ivenbyt
heans
wer
soft
he50mos
t

1
01
br
il
li
antnanc
ial
mindsi
nthewor
ld.

Fi
nal
l
y,bes
uret
oreadhowt
opr
otec
tyour
sel
ffr
om des
truc
tiv
efees
.Mos
tpeopl
ehav
enoi
deat
hatt
heav
-
er
agemut
ual
fund,
wheny
oudi
gint
othenepr
int
,hasupt
o17f
eeswhi
chac
cor
dingt
oFor
besmagaz
ine
av
erage3.
1
2%.
Byc
ont
ras
t,i
fyouhav
etwopeopl
ewhos
tar
tat35y
ear
sol
dwi
th$1
00,
000andt
heyc
om-
pounda7%r
etur
n,t
heper
sonwho
spay
ing1
%inf
eeswi
l
lhav
e$760,
000v
s.t
heper
sonpay
ing3%i
nfees
amount
ingt
o$430,
000atage65.
Theyhadt
hes
amer
ateofr
etur
n;t
heonl
ydi
er
enc
ewasf
ees
.Mygoal
wi
tht
hisbookwass
impl
e:t
oconv
erty
ouf
rom t
hec
hes
spi
ecet
othec
hes
spl
ayer
!

Succ
essi
fnotadesti
nat
ion,
butan
ongoi
ngprocessofc
onst
antandnever
endi
ngimprovement
.

Whatbookar
eyour
eadi
ng/l
is
teni
ngt
ori
ghtnow?
I
RINAJ
ORDAN
Oneofmyf
avor
it
ebooksofal
lti
mei
sThe1
00:
ARanki
ngOfTheMos
tInuent
ial
Per
sonsI
nHi
st
orybyMi
-
c
hael
Har
t.I
ttakesapr
ovoc
ati
vel
ookatwhohasi
nuenc
edhi
st
oryt
hemos
t.AndI
ndt
hatev
enas
hor
tbi
-
ogr
aphyoft
hegr
eat
sofhi
st
oryt
obei
ncr
edi
blyi
nspi
ri
ng.
Ial
sor
ecommendt
oev
ery
onet
hatt
heyr
eada
c
las
sic
:Man
sSear
chf
orMeani
ngbyVi
ktorFr
ankl
.
Aft
err
eadi
ngi
t,nomat
terhowbi
gyourc
hal
l
enge,
you
l
l
r
eal
i
zey
ouhav
enopr
obl
ems
!Andy
ou
l
lremembert
heunwav
eri
ngpoweroft
hehumans
pir
itt
hatl
i
ves
wi
thi
nyou.

Inyourquestt
ofeedmill
ionsever
yyearandcoor
dinat
ethousandsofot
her
progr
amst ohel
ppeople,whatisapai
npointt
hatyouareexperi
enci
ng,
andhowc anwehelp?
TROYSHU
I

mtouc
hedbyy
ourques
ti
on.
Theans
weri
ssi
mpl
e:I
hat
esuer
ing.
Ihat
etos
eepeopl
esuerbec
aus
eI
f
eel
thei
rsuer
ing.
AndI
lov
etol
i
ghtpeopl
eup.
Ilov
etos
eepeopl
etr
ans
for
m.I
lov
etos
eet
hel
i
ghti
n
s
omeone
sey
eswhent
heybec
omeagi
veri
nst
eadofat
aker
.

Y
ourques
ti
oni
sas
tut
e.Mos
tofusndourpas
sionsi
nthi
ngst
hatwer
eei
therdeni
edorwer
etakenf
rom

1
02
us
that

sof
tenwher
esomeofourdes
iresc
omef
rom.
Igr
ewupi
naf
ami
l
ythatt
odaywec
all
foodi
nse-
c
ure
ther
ewer
eday
swi
thnomeal
s.SoI

mver
ypas
sionat
eaboutf
eedi
ngpeopl
e.I
was1
1-
year
s-ol
done
Thanks
giv
ingandwehadnomoneyf
orf
ood.
Ast
rangerdel
i
ver
edaThanks
giv
ingmeal
toourhome;
it
c
hangedmef
orev
er.
Itwasmor
ethanf
oodi
tmademebel
i
evet
hats
tranger
scar
e.Andi
tmademec
are
abouts
tranger
s.

I
promi
sedmy
sel
fthats
omeday
,Iwoul
ddowel
lenought
otakec
areofot
her
sandpr
ovi
det
hes
amegi
ft
s.
At1
7,I
fedt
wof
ami
l
iesf
ort
her
stt
imeatThanks
giv
ing.
Itwass
oenor
mous
lyf
ull
l
ingt
hatI
want
edt
o
doubl
eiteac
hyear
.Wi
thi
naf
ewy
ear
s,I
wasf
eedi
ngac
oupl
ehundr
edpeopl
e.ThenI
gotpeopl
einv
olv
ed
i
nmyear
lys
tagec
ompani
esmyempl
oyees
,myf
ri
ends
.Qui
ckl
y,i
tgr
ewt
o1mi
l
li
onpeopl
e,t
hen2mi
l
li
on.
I
nthel
asts
eveny
ear
s,mywi
feandI
hav
emat
chedourf
oundat
ion
stwomi
l
li
onmeal
s,wi
tht
womi
l
li
on
meal
sofourownf
orat
otal
off
ourmi
l
li
on.

Thes
elas
tfewy
ear
s,asI
wrot
eMoney
:Mas
tert
heGame
m, I
coul
dn
thel
pbes
truc
kbyt
her
adi
cal
cont
ras
t
bet
weent
hos
ewi
thenor
mousweal
thandt
hos
ewhoar
est
il
ll
iv
ingl
i
kehowI
grewup.
Inf
act
,Congr
essc
ut
whatweus
edt
oknowasf
oods
tampsaf
ewy
ear
sagobybi
l
li
onsofdol
l
ars
,func
tional
l
yel
i
minat
ingone
meal
aweekf
oral
lpeopl
ecur
rent
lyus
inggov
ernmentas
sis
tanc
e.I
dec
idedt
odos
omet
hing.
I
vef
ed42
mi
l
li
onpeopl
eov
ert
hec
our
seofmyl
i
fet
ime,
sinc
eIwas1
7.I
dec
idedI
want
edt
ofeedmor
epeopl
einone
y
eart
hanI
hadi
nmyent
ir
eli
fe.

SoI
par
tner
edwi
thFeedi
ngAmer
ica,
thenat
ion
s#1hungerr
eli
efor
gani
zat
ion.
Ias
kedt
hem howmany
peopl
ecoul
dIf
eedi
fIdonat
edal
lthepr
ot
sofmybooki
nadv
anc
e.I
twasas
izabl
eamount
theyt
oldmeI
c
oul
dfeed1
0mi
l
li
onpeopl
e!I
commi
tt
edont
hes
pott
odot
hat
,butt
hendec
idedt
orai
set
hatnumbert
oin-
c
ludeanaddi
ti
onal
gif
t.I

m pr
oudt
osayt
hatI

veper
sonal
l
ydonat
ed50mi
l
li
onmeal
sthi
syearal
one.

Inmysoul
,Ibel
i
evet
hes
ecr
ett
oli
vi
ng
i
sgi
vi
ng.

1
03
Howwouldyoudenesucc
ess
?Foryour
sel
f,f
orc
lient
s,f
orc
ompani
es,f
or
s
cenes
,f
orindus
tri
es?
ANDREASKLI
NGER
I
bel
i
eves
ucc
essi
snotades
ti
nat
ion,
butanongoi
ngpr
oces
sofc
ons
tantandnev
erendi
ngi
mpr
ovement
.
Ours
ucc
essi
nli
fec
omesi
ntwof
orms
.Fi
rsti
sourabi
l
it
ytot
akeourv
isi
onandmakei
treal
,whet
hert
hatbe
i
nourpr
ofes
sional
orper
sonal
li
ves
.Sec
ondl
y,andequal
l
yasi
mpor
tant
,isourabi
l
it
ytoc
ont
ri
but
etoot
her
s
i
nawayt
hatc
reat
esas
ens
eoft
ruemeani
ngandf
ull
l
ment
.

As
adex
ampl
e(s
omeonewhowass
ucc
ess
ful
bymos
tpeopl
e
smeas
ures
)woul
dbet
hegr
eatl
ossweex
pe-
r
ienc
edl
asty
eari
nRobi
nWi
l
li
ams
.Hewant
edt
obeagr
eatc
omedi
ant
omakepeopl
elaughar
oundt
he
wor
ldandheac
compl
i
shedi
t.Hewant
edt
obeagr
eatac
torandwi
nanAc
ademyAwar
d;hes
ucc
eeded
t
her
e,t
oo.
Hewant
edabeaut
if
ulf
ami
l
y,andpeopl
ear
oundt
hewor
ldwhol
ovedhi
m.Heac
compl
i
shedal
l
oft
his
.Buthet
ookhi
sownl
i
febec
aus
esuc
ces
swi
thoutf
ull
l
menti
stheul
ti
mat
efai
l
ure.
Mywi
shf
ory
oui
s
t
ondameani
ngf
ulmi
ssi
ont
hatwi
l
ligni
tey
ouev
eryday
.

I
lovetoseet
hel
i
ghti
ns omeonesey
es
whentheybec
omeagiveri
nst
eadof
ataker
.

1
04