On: Systems, Levers, and Quixotic Quests.

Episode: 85

Date: January 2020

Background: Internet entrepreneur (PayPal, LinkedIn), venture capitalist and author.

Key Subjects:

• System thinking and change.
  • Archimedean levers: how to most effectively change the system.
  • Multiple means: ideas, incentives, culture, leaders, institutions.
• Problem with elites:
  • Not: presence of extraordinary people.
  • But: incompetent people try to lock in their own position, prestige, and power.
• Importance of language.
  • Core to who we are and who we become.
  • How we form identity and community, how we see each other.
  • Not everybody needs to be different or contrarian (Musk, Thiel) to move discussion forward.
• Entrepreneurs should write down:
  • World view: vision of what the world is and will become.
  • Idea: how their idea fits in with this world view.
  • Ability: unique capabilities to make it happen.
• Big Tech.
  • Once you become part of the social infrastructure, you need to be accountable.
  • For instance FB (amplifies spread of negative stuff, increases overall agitation in society).
• Be a good competitor:
  • Recognize when you need to compete (zero sum).
  • Seek out non-zero games where possible.
• Permanent beta: learn and keep learning.
• Network validation: references (from knowledgeable sources) are more important than interviews.
• Tragedy: how we respond is the great question of how we derive meaning, what is our character.
• Education = certification, credentials = cheapest signals of talent we have at the moment.
• Mysticism = being more open minded, acknowledging uncertainty.
• 8/10