at 21 i didn't know what a startup was
at 31 now i've raised $15M for my startup
here are 10 lessons i learned over the last 10 years:
money is a tool:
many people are taught that money is the root of all evil
but it's simply a tool that reveals who you are as a person
used well, it unlocks faster progress and greater success
find champions to lift you up:
i got my first role at uber through a cold application
but i got promoted because i found strong mentors once i started
when you have no connections, seek out champions who believe in you
remove negativity fast:
life's short, full stop
the most emotionally taxing thing i did in my 20s was cut out people who were negative presences in my life
once i did, i gained clarity on my path forward and had the state of mind to achieve it
soft skills drive success:
raw intelligence and emotional intelligence both matter
being focused on building genuine relationships will accelerate your life in unexpected ways
relationships are often the key to making big jumps forward in life
embrace risk:
the downside of taking risks is often lower than we think
i've moved to new cities where i knew very few people 3 times
and abandoned cushy big tech jobs to build a startup
being risk averse ends up just stunting our progress
value time over money:
most people are taught as kids to protect and save money
but time is your most valuable asset
within reason, use money to protect your time and focus on your goals
success is a grind:
@paulg says that determination is a better predictor of success than talent
and he's right — achieving ambitious goals requires sustained conviction
i took $0 salary for a year in order to help start @launchhouse and made sacrifices
build around milestones:
your story changes every time you achieve a new milestone
once i had experience building products, i thought about how to get a job doing that anywhere
take a moment to reflect on your goals whenever you achieve one
life isn't zero-sum:
a rising tide lifts all ships
you will achieve more by not being protective of your own success
an abundance mindset will attract others who have one as well
just start things:
don't wait around for your plan to be perfect
i can promise you it's never going to go exactly as you planned
and experience is the best teacher anyway
bonus — admit you're wrong quickly:
it's ok to be wrong
ironically people will only think less of you if you won't accept it
instead lead with your curiosity and focus on learning
i spent most formative part of these 10 years in san francisco
i met so many optimistic people there building big new ideas
but now people are saying it's dead — what do you think?
issfdead.com
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11 lessons from my 20s:
- money is a tool
- seek out mentors
- remove negativity fast
- soft skills drive success
- embrace risk
- value time over money
- success is a grind
- build around milestones
- life isn't zero-sum
- just start things
- admit you're wrong quickly