_edited.jpg)
Ben Silbermann, the co-founder of Pinterest, has a unique perspective on advice and venture capital. He emphasizes the importance of trusting your own instincts, even when surrounded by experienced and successful people.
Photo: Getty Images
The Dazzling World of Venture Capital
When you walk into a room filled with venture capitalists, it's easy to be overwhelmed. Silbermann notes, "People are going to give you all kinds of advice. And I think that it's really easy to take that advice because you walk into a room and there's like Google's first stock certificate. And, you know, they're like invented Yahoo."
These individuals are undoubtedly smart, but Silbermann points out a crucial truth: "We're in a pretty high volatility industry." Despite their expertise, venture capitalists are often wrong. The industry is unpredictable, and the future is unwritten.
The Unwritten Future
One of Silbermann's core beliefs is that "fundamentally the future is unwritten." This means that even the most experienced advisors can be wrong. He stresses that while it's important to consider advice, you shouldn't take it at face value. "They can tell you that you should be more technical. They can tell you that you're in the wrong market. They can tell you all of these things. And those things might be true, and you should assess them for yourself. But you shouldn't take it on face because they could be wrong."
The Haunting Regrets of Venture Capitalists
For all their successes, venture capitalists have their own regrets. Silbermann reveals, "For all the millions of dollars venture capital investors have made, for all the certificates that are on the wall, they have these little trophies when things go IPO. For all those things, there are things that they passed on. And those are the things that actually burn them up. Like those are the ones that haunt them at night."
Beating the Odds
The key to success, according to Silbermann, is convincing others—and yourself—that you can beat the odds. "If you can convince somebody that you just might be the one that's going to beat the odds, you can be successful." This attitude is crucial whether you're recruiting, raising money, or making a final push in adjusting your product.
A Notable Example: Airbnb
A famous example of venture capitalists being wrong is Airbnb. Early on, many investors passed on Airbnb, doubting that people would want to rent out their homes to strangers. Despite this skepticism, Airbnb became a massive success, revolutionizing the travel industry. Today, it's a multi-billion-dollar company, proving that even seasoned investors can miss out on game-changing opportunities.
Trust Yourself
Silbermann's advice is clear: trust your vision. While it's important to listen to others, ultimately, you must make your own decisions. The future is unwritten, and with the right mindset, you can turn your vision into reality.
Listen to Ben Silbermann:
Комментарии