00:00

Guest on. What's the wifi?

Guest on. What's the wifi?

00:02

I can't no. I can't get in.

I can't no. I can't get in.

00:05

Oh, it's argh.

Oh, it's argh.

00:08

Connect your teams easier than connecting your wifi. Hubspot,

Connect your teams easier than connecting your wifi. Hubspot,

00:12

road better.

road better.

00:13

All hands on deck.

All hands on deck.

00:21

What's up? It's Shaan, and it is one question Friday. So we are taking one listener question

What's up? It's Shaan, and it is one question Friday. So we are taking one listener question

00:27

and answering it on the spot. Hopefully, five minutes, maybe ten minutes. Let's see how this goes. I'm gonna play this audio recording that Ben sent to me. I haven't heard it yet. Let's hear it together.

and answering it on the spot. Hopefully, five minutes, maybe ten minutes. Let's see how this goes. I'm gonna play this audio recording that Ben sent to me. I haven't heard it yet. Let's hear it together.

00:37

So I was having a call the other day, and I was thinking about this question.

So I was having a call the other day, and I was thinking about this question.

00:41

What do you do differently

What do you do differently

00:43

that allowed you to succeed that you think other people who had similar circumstances to you did not. Where did you succeed where they did not? Okay.

that allowed you to succeed that you think other people who had similar circumstances to you did not. Where did you succeed where they did not? Okay.

00:54

Good question. A very broad question. Right? So we could take this a bunch of different ways. Here's how I wanna take it. What are the common answers that you think people would give to a question like this. So, what do you do differently that helps you succeed? Well, some people will say, yeah, let's break it into groups. There's the,

Good question. A very broad question. Right? So we could take this a bunch of different ways. Here's how I wanna take it. What are the common answers that you think people would give to a question like this. So, what do you do differently that helps you succeed? Well, some people will say, yeah, let's break it into groups. There's the,

01:12

overly humble. The overly humble will say, you know, I've all credit to god.

overly humble. The overly humble will say, you know, I've all credit to god.

01:16

I've been blessed. I was really lucky.

I've been blessed. I was really lucky.

01:18

And, you know, I just kind of kept putting one foot in front of the other and worked hard and, and I,

And, you know, I just kind of kept putting one foot in front of the other and worked hard and, and I,

01:24

you know, I'm just fortunate to be born in this great place with all my my limbs and my brain and all this. Right? Okay. There's that path.

you know, I'm just fortunate to be born in this great place with all my my limbs and my brain and all this. Right? Okay. There's that path.

01:32

All true things, but not that useful to somebody listening. So let's let's kick that out.

All true things, but not that useful to somebody listening. So let's let's kick that out.

01:37

Also, that applies to many other people who didn't have the same result as you, so that certainly couldn't be it. Okay. Second thing, hard work. Right? Hard work is the next thing that people love to say. I think because

Also, that applies to many other people who didn't have the same result as you, so that certainly couldn't be it. Okay. Second thing, hard work. Right? Hard work is the next thing that people love to say. I think because

01:48

hard work feels like you earned it.

hard work feels like you earned it.

01:50

And it feels like you're not saying you're better than everybody else. It feels like you made better choices than others that were available to them too.

And it feels like you're not saying you're better than everybody else. It feels like you made better choices than others that were available to them too.

01:57

And, who can argue with hard work? But the reality is I really don't work very hard,

And, who can argue with hard work? But the reality is I really don't work very hard,

02:03

or at least I don't feel that way. The the thing I would say is I actually do work a lot

or at least I don't feel that way. The the thing I would say is I actually do work a lot

02:07

But

But

02:09

I only work on stuff I like. And so I think hard workers, you know, like, a janitor works hard.

I only work on stuff I like. And so I think hard workers, you know, like, a janitor works hard.

02:15

A line cook works hard,

A line cook works hard,

02:17

you know,

you know,

02:18

a single mother works hard, you know. And so I I don't really put

a single mother works hard, you know. And so I I don't really put

02:22

What I do, it has, you know,

What I do, it has, you know,

02:25

pretty much no physical strain,

pretty much no physical strain,

02:28

no emotional,

no emotional,

02:29

you know, small emotional strain, I guess.

you know, small emotional strain, I guess.

02:31

And,

And,

02:32

you know, honestly, it's fun. Like, I do it because I enjoy it. I'm not doing it because I kind of feel like I have to do this in order to get what I want. That is not at all how I think about things. And if there are many areas where I'm like, oh, man, if I worked harder, I'd get a better result. I can't bring myself to do it. I'm lazy in that way.

you know, honestly, it's fun. Like, I do it because I enjoy it. I'm not doing it because I kind of feel like I have to do this in order to get what I want. That is not at all how I think about things. And if there are many areas where I'm like, oh, man, if I worked harder, I'd get a better result. I can't bring myself to do it. I'm lazy in that way.

02:48

The reason I work a bunch is because I really,

The reason I work a bunch is because I really,

02:51

like, it feels like play to me. It's like watching somebody play a video game You don't have to tell them, hey, sit down and focus on this for three hours. It's like, what are you talking about? It's Call of Duty. Of course, I'll play this as long as I can. And so, it's not hard work. So what is it then? Well, you said something in your question, which was what's different about you than, like, what what did you do differently than, like, others you in similar situations to you. Okay. That's a good way of asking that question.

like, it feels like play to me. It's like watching somebody play a video game You don't have to tell them, hey, sit down and focus on this for three hours. It's like, what are you talking about? It's Call of Duty. Of course, I'll play this as long as I can. And so, it's not hard work. So what is it then? Well, you said something in your question, which was what's different about you than, like, what what did you do differently than, like, others you in similar situations to you. Okay. That's a good way of asking that question.

03:16

Let's take my college. Right? Here I got more in the shirt. I went to Duke.

Let's take my college. Right? Here I got more in the shirt. I went to Duke.

03:20

And there's a bunch of super smart people who went to Duke. In fact, at Duke, I was a very mediocre student,

And there's a bunch of super smart people who went to Duke. In fact, at Duke, I was a very mediocre student,

03:25

middle of the pack, maybe slightly below average.

middle of the pack, maybe slightly below average.

03:29

And,

And,

03:30

you know, whatever. It's a good school, a lot of smart people, a lot of hard workers. Okay. I do think that I've had

you know, whatever. It's a good school, a lot of smart people, a lot of hard workers. Okay. I do think that I've had

03:36

probably more success, you know, by kind of a traditional definition, but also just more fun

probably more success, you know, by kind of a traditional definition, but also just more fun

03:41

than ninety nine percent of the other people who graduated in my class.

than ninety nine percent of the other people who graduated in my class.

03:47

I could be wrong. No way to really know, but,

I could be wrong. No way to really know, but,

03:49

I believe that to be true from from what I've seen. So what is different? What I would say is that most of my friends from college, most of the people I went to school with,

I believe that to be true from from what I've seen. So what is different? What I would say is that most of my friends from college, most of the people I went to school with,

03:58

played it, quote, unquote,

played it, quote, unquote,

04:00

safe.

safe.

04:01

And is it really safe?

And is it really safe?

04:03

That's the question.

That's the question.

04:05

And because to me, safe is good

And because to me, safe is good

04:08

if you can get the outcome you want with the least risk possible.

if you can get the outcome you want with the least risk possible.

04:12

Safe is awesome.

Safe is awesome.

04:14

Right? Like, I don't wanna, you know, go to war because the outcome I want is to be alive and, like, I can just stay at home and add just way less risk.

Right? Like, I don't wanna, you know, go to war because the outcome I want is to be alive and, like, I can just stay at home and add just way less risk.

04:22

Than,

Than,

04:23

going to war.

going to war.

04:25

But I also don't just stay at home and not drive places because I wanna go see them I wanna go to a movie or I wanna go to the grocery store, whatever. An outcome I want, but I'll take the least risk risk possible. I'm not gonna, you know, drive a motorcycle, I'll drive a car. You get the idea. So to me,

But I also don't just stay at home and not drive places because I wanna go see them I wanna go to a movie or I wanna go to the grocery store, whatever. An outcome I want, but I'll take the least risk risk possible. I'm not gonna, you know, drive a motorcycle, I'll drive a car. You get the idea. So to me,

04:40

safety is when you get the outcome you want with the least risk,

safety is when you get the outcome you want with the least risk,

04:43

taken.

taken.

04:44

What I saw was most of my friends from college

What I saw was most of my friends from college

04:48

took what was what we would call a safe path

took what was what we would call a safe path

04:52

if you wanted that outcome.

if you wanted that outcome.

04:54

The reality is that I definitely did not want the come that those jobs led to. So the jobs, the most popular tracks were doctor,

The reality is that I definitely did not want the come that those jobs led to. So the jobs, the most popular tracks were doctor,

05:04

kind of like lawyer

kind of like lawyer

05:06

consultant

consultant

05:07

or banker. Those are, like, the kind of, like, high achiever paths that I would say most of the smart, smartest people in,

or banker. Those are, like, the kind of, like, high achiever paths that I would say most of the smart, smartest people in,

05:16

at my school did.

at my school did.

05:19

And, I guess the other one would just be like corporate manager of some kind. Okay. Cool. So The problem with that is when I look at what success looks like for a doctor, for a lawyer,

And, I guess the other one would just be like corporate manager of some kind. Okay. Cool. So The problem with that is when I look at what success looks like for a doctor, for a lawyer,

05:28

for a consultant, for a banker, or for a corporate manager,

for a consultant, for a banker, or for a corporate manager,

05:32

None of those

None of those

05:34

by default would get me the outcome I wanted. Right? I was like, dude, I wanna make tons of money. I wanna have fun every day. I wanna have action, creativity. I don't wanna just be doing the same thing over and over. Right? Like, I shadowed a doctor because I was premed. I took the MCATs. I was planning to go to med school until I shadowed a doctor. And I went to shadow him to figure out,

by default would get me the outcome I wanted. Right? I was like, dude, I wanna make tons of money. I wanna have fun every day. I wanna have action, creativity. I don't wanna just be doing the same thing over and over. Right? Like, I shadowed a doctor because I was premed. I took the MCATs. I was planning to go to med school until I shadowed a doctor. And I went to shadow him to figure out,

05:54

can I do this? But by the end of it, the answer I walked away with was, I don't want to do this because it was extremely

can I do this? But by the end of it, the answer I walked away with was, I don't want to do this because it was extremely

06:00

repetitive

repetitive

06:01

what was happening every day. And,

what was happening every day. And,

06:04

you're helping people, which is awesome, but I could not stand the repetitive nature of seeing patients and having the same, you know, as an orthopedic guy, oh, Yep. You have torn meniscus. You have a torn ligament. You have joint pain, and there's nothing we could do for you. That's that's what it was over and over and over again. And so

you're helping people, which is awesome, but I could not stand the repetitive nature of seeing patients and having the same, you know, as an orthopedic guy, oh, Yep. You have torn meniscus. You have a torn ligament. You have joint pain, and there's nothing we could do for you. That's that's what it was over and over and over again. And so

06:21

I didn't want the winning path of that.

I didn't want the winning path of that.

06:24

So financially, some some paths. I was like, oh, man. You work how hard and you make how much? And, like,

So financially, some some paths. I was like, oh, man. You work how hard and you make how much? And, like,

06:30

Is there a path here where I could have, like, I don't know, fifty million dollars? Like, what if I want fifty million dollars? Right? You don't have to want it.

Is there a path here where I could have, like, I don't know, fifty million dollars? Like, what if I want fifty million dollars? Right? You don't have to want it.

06:38

But let's say I do want it because I do.

But let's say I do want it because I do.

06:40

Right? And I'm not afraid to say it. I'm not ashamed of the things I wanted. I was like, I that sounds awesome. I could choose between less money and more money, I'm choosing more money. Right? That was very obvious to me at the time. And when I looked at how much you could make in a certain amount of time, the first, let's say ten years of your career, I was like, wow. Okay. Finance, I might be able to get there, but not really these other paths. Okay. Maybe I can do it in finance or consulting, but do I have to do to get there? Oh, man. I gotta grind to eighty, ninety hours a week kind of as the low man on the totem pole, and I'm just like an Excel monkey, and I'm like, you know, I'm not building I'm not anything new, and I'm not building my own business. I'm, like, just this kind of, like, middle man, that's what it felt like.

Right? And I'm not afraid to say it. I'm not ashamed of the things I wanted. I was like, I that sounds awesome. I could choose between less money and more money, I'm choosing more money. Right? That was very obvious to me at the time. And when I looked at how much you could make in a certain amount of time, the first, let's say ten years of your career, I was like, wow. Okay. Finance, I might be able to get there, but not really these other paths. Okay. Maybe I can do it in finance or consulting, but do I have to do to get there? Oh, man. I gotta grind to eighty, ninety hours a week kind of as the low man on the totem pole, and I'm just like an Excel monkey, and I'm like, you know, I'm not building I'm not anything new, and I'm not building my own business. I'm, like, just this kind of, like, middle man, that's what it felt like.

07:17

Or corporate management,

Or corporate management,

07:19

That's cool, but, like, I gotta go to an office every day, nine to five, wear a certain thing and talk a certain way and spend a bunch of my days doing,

That's cool, but, like, I gotta go to an office every day, nine to five, wear a certain thing and talk a certain way and spend a bunch of my days doing,

07:26

you know, like, you know, certain meetings that I didn't wanna do, like, you know, talent calibration and, like, you know, employee onboarding and all this bullshit. Right? So I didn't find that fun.

you know, like, you know, certain meetings that I didn't wanna do, like, you know, talent calibration and, like, you know, employee onboarding and all this bullshit. Right? So I didn't find that fun.

07:36

And I even saw people who were playing that game at a high level. So, for example, when we got acquired by Twitch,

And I even saw people who were playing that game at a high level. So, for example, when we got acquired by Twitch,

07:42

I saw, well, what is the CEO of a multi billion dollar company do every day. And what does, you know, the VP of product do? And what does the CTO do? What what do these people do every day? What if I look at their day and I don't want it, then why am I in this track? So I would say the most important thing I did differently was get clear on what I actually wanted, how I wanted my life to go,

I saw, well, what is the CEO of a multi billion dollar company do every day. And what does, you know, the VP of product do? And what does the CTO do? What what do these people do every day? What if I look at their day and I don't want it, then why am I in this track? So I would say the most important thing I did differently was get clear on what I actually wanted, how I wanted my life to go,

08:03

And then I looked at the quote, unquote, safe tracks, and I realized pretty quickly that those don't get me to that thing I want. So in that sense, They're not safe at all. They're extremely dangerous to my goals. Right? Are you following that? Like, if you if you look at what you want, if you have a clear picture of what you want,

And then I looked at the quote, unquote, safe tracks, and I realized pretty quickly that those don't get me to that thing I want. So in that sense, They're not safe at all. They're extremely dangerous to my goals. Right? Are you following that? Like, if you if you look at what you want, if you have a clear picture of what you want,

08:20

And then you look at the safe path and you say, does the safe path get me to what I want? And the answer is no, then it is not safe. It is extremely risky because it's putting my dream at risk.

And then you look at the safe path and you say, does the safe path get me to what I want? And the answer is no, then it is not safe. It is extremely risky because it's putting my dream at risk.

08:29

And,

And,

08:29

knowing what you want also takes a little bit of work. So take some time, take some imagining, take some sampling. I would go and meet a bunch of people and be like, so what's your life like? You know?

knowing what you want also takes a little bit of work. So take some time, take some imagining, take some sampling. I would go and meet a bunch of people and be like, so what's your life like? You know?

08:40

Okay. You have this much money. What how does that work? You have this, work schedule. How does that work? Oh, you never see your kids Okay. That doesn't that doesn't sound like a win. Right? Like, my buddy dated a girl in college. My my roommate was dating a girl in college, and her dad was a high, you know, whatever partner at.

Okay. You have this much money. What how does that work? You have this, work schedule. How does that work? Oh, you never see your kids Okay. That doesn't that doesn't sound like a win. Right? Like, my buddy dated a girl in college. My my roommate was dating a girl in college, and her dad was a high, you know, whatever partner at.

08:55

Whatever, Deloitte, Boston Consulting, whatever whatever it was.

Whatever, Deloitte, Boston Consulting, whatever whatever it was.

08:59

And, you know, she was just like, yeah. Growing up, like, he was home Thursday through Sunday, and then he would fly out or Thursday through Saturday, he fly out Sunday, and he'd be at a client site from, you know, Sunday through Thursday every week, and then he fly back and he was super tired and that was the first eighteen years of my life. And so I saw I immediately could cross that safe path of consulting off because

And, you know, she was just like, yeah. Growing up, like, he was home Thursday through Sunday, and then he would fly out or Thursday through Saturday, he fly out Sunday, and he'd be at a client site from, you know, Sunday through Thursday every week, and then he fly back and he was super tired and that was the first eighteen years of my life. And so I saw I immediately could cross that safe path of consulting off because

09:20

If that's how the the top of the top do it in that field, then I don't wanna do it. And, of course, there are outliers in every

If that's how the the top of the top do it in that field, then I don't wanna do it. And, of course, there are outliers in every

09:26

in every industry, every track, there are some outliers.

in every industry, every track, there are some outliers.

09:28

But then I'd have to be really clear that, hey, am I betting on being an outlier in that path? If so, then the I gotta be willing to make that choice. So for example, I chose entrepreneurship.

But then I'd have to be really clear that, hey, am I betting on being an outlier in that path? If so, then the I gotta be willing to make that choice. So for example, I chose entrepreneurship.

09:39

What I knew was that the day to day of an entrepreneur sounded really fun. I get to build a a product, a creative product from scratch, maybe invent a new product,

What I knew was that the day to day of an entrepreneur sounded really fun. I get to build a a product, a creative product from scratch, maybe invent a new product,

09:47

I get to sell it. That sounds interesting. Marketing has I always found fun. And, you know, I get to go on this ride where I'm sometimes I'm pitching to investors sometimes customers, sometimes I'm putting out a fire over here. That sounded really fun to me, and I tried it out and I actually really enjoyed it. And I knew that, okay, most entrepreneurs don't make it, but I thought, well, if I really enjoy this,

I get to sell it. That sounds interesting. Marketing has I always found fun. And, you know, I get to go on this ride where I'm sometimes I'm pitching to investors sometimes customers, sometimes I'm putting out a fire over here. That sounded really fun to me, and I tried it out and I actually really enjoyed it. And I knew that, okay, most entrepreneurs don't make it, but I thought, well, if I really enjoy this,

10:04

Then I'm I'm probably gonna be willing to do it for ten, fifteen years. And what I saw was that

Then I'm I'm probably gonna be willing to do it for ten, fifteen years. And what I saw was that

10:09

most people would quote these statistics that ninety percent of businesses fail. Or that this individual idea has a very low chance of every very low chance of success. And that is true. Most individual ideas

most people would quote these statistics that ninety percent of businesses fail. Or that this individual idea has a very low chance of every very low chance of success. And that is true. Most individual ideas

10:20

and businesses do fail.

and businesses do fail.

10:23

And the way, the quote I heard was that, yes, startups fail, but entrepreneurs don't. What that means is that if you look at any great entrepreneur, any entrepreneur who sticks with it, who's really tries hard and actually has some skill,

And the way, the quote I heard was that, yes, startups fail, but entrepreneurs don't. What that means is that if you look at any great entrepreneur, any entrepreneur who sticks with it, who's really tries hard and actually has some skill,

10:35

Over a ten to fifteen year year period, they all win. Right? They tend to they tend to win. The odds are in their favor that in a ten to fifteen year period, they do have a win. And when they win, They win in an order of magnitude of millions and millions of dollars. Okay. Great.

Over a ten to fifteen year year period, they all win. Right? They tend to they tend to win. The odds are in their favor that in a ten to fifteen year period, they do have a win. And when they win, They win in an order of magnitude of millions and millions of dollars. Okay. Great.

10:48

So

So

10:49

even the one idea that I'm doing this year might not have the highest odds of success, if I just came he bought this for ten, fifteen years, my odds of success go from individually very low to collectively over ten, fifty years very high. So I loved that.

even the one idea that I'm doing this year might not have the highest odds of success, if I just came he bought this for ten, fifteen years, my odds of success go from individually very low to collectively over ten, fifty years very high. So I loved that.

11:03

I loved the size of the prize. I loved the likelihood of success, and I loved the day to day to get there, which told me I'll probably stick with it long enough to hit a win. And so that's how I chose what I wanted to do. So in summary,

I loved the size of the prize. I loved the likelihood of success, and I loved the day to day to get there, which told me I'll probably stick with it long enough to hit a win. And so that's how I chose what I wanted to do. So in summary,

11:16

what I think I did differently was get clear on what I wanted

what I think I did differently was get clear on what I wanted

11:20

And then I what I recognized was that the, quote, unquote, safe paths weren't really so safe after all because they had a very low chance of getting me to that outcome that I wanted. And so in that sense, there were the riskiest paths of all. Whereas most people, I think, gravitated towards

And then I what I recognized was that the, quote, unquote, safe paths weren't really so safe after all because they had a very low chance of getting me to that outcome that I wanted. And so in that sense, there were the riskiest paths of all. Whereas most people, I think, gravitated towards

11:34

something that sounded good in theory or sounded good to their parents or sounded good to their aunts and uncles and their peers and their teachers and whoever. And they said, yep. This This sounds good, and they got onto a track that actually won't lead them to a lifestyle that they want. Whereas I figured out the lifestyle I wanted first, and then I figured out. And then I looked at what can get me there, and I chose the safest amongst those.

something that sounded good in theory or sounded good to their parents or sounded good to their aunts and uncles and their peers and their teachers and whoever. And they said, yep. This This sounds good, and they got onto a track that actually won't lead them to a lifestyle that they want. Whereas I figured out the lifestyle I wanted first, and then I figured out. And then I looked at what can get me there, and I chose the safest amongst those.

11:57

Alright. That's all. Hope that was helpful.

Alright. That's all. Hope that was helpful.

12:00

Come on. I know that was helpful. Had to be helpful. Right? I put my I put my heart into that one. So I hope that it was helpful. I hope I might have took an idea that you already had and maybe put it a little differently or brought it front of your mind, and maybe it was buried in the back of your mind. That's that's a win for me out of these. So one question Friday in the books.

Come on. I know that was helpful. Had to be helpful. Right? I put my I put my heart into that one. So I hope that it was helpful. I hope I might have took an idea that you already had and maybe put it a little differently or brought it front of your mind, and maybe it was buried in the back of your mind. That's that's a win for me out of these. So one question Friday in the books.

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