We went through interviews, essays, founder letters and old clips from some of the most influential entrepreneurs in tech to understand what they actually do differently.
Here are 7 principles from Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Marc Andreessen, Mark Zuckerberg and Travis Kalanick that any founder can apply:
Build around something you believe that others don’t
Put disproportionate time into what can kill the company
Ask users what they hate, not what they like
Believe in yourself before anyone else has a reason to
Commit to a thesis before it becomes obvious
Move fast while thinking in decades
Learn how to keep going when the market says no
We traced each principle back to their own words!
Inside you will find:
The One Question That Tells You If Your Startup Idea Is Worth Building
Peter Thiel’s contrarian test, and why a consensus idea gets competed down to zero margin.
How Musk Turned Speed Into More Shots Before the Money Ran Out
The allocation rule hiding behind the famous 22-hour days.
The Feedback Question That Makes Users Tell You the Truth
The exact line Musk uses with friends, and why praise teaches you nothing.
Why Your Self-Belief Is What Gets Your First Hires and Investors to Bet
Sam Altman’s rule on self-belief “almost to the point of delusion,” and the check he puts on it.
How to Commit to a Thesis Years Before It Looks Obvious
What Marc Andreessen’s 2011 “software is eating the world” bet teaches about holding a position.
How Zuckerberg Runs Fast Shipping and Ten-Year Bets at the Same Time
The two clocks written into Facebook’s IPO letter.
How to Outlast the Market’s No, and the Line Kalanick Says He Crossed
Four years without a salary at Red Swoosh, and his own account of running “too close to the line.”
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