a16z Podcast

a16z Podcast: How to Be Original and Make Big Ideas Happen


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From Aaron Sorkin to Steve Jobs to Meredith Perry and Elon Musk, "original" thinkers -- such as entrepreneurs -- do a lot of different things to move the world to their visions. And many of those things (and traits) are counterintuitive, such as ... Embracing procrastination. But there's a catch: It's about being the just-right amount of procrastinator, expert, or confident. There's a curvilinear relationship between too much and too little.

There's also some surprising findings about why NOT to "start with the why" but with the how. Because sometimes the how is much more believable than the why. Especially when it comes to getting people to engineer things from ubeam to SpaceX. Or to really being able to tell the difference between communication vs. confidence vs. competence.

Ultimately, it's all about being flexible, argues top Wharton management professor and New York Times columnist Adam Grant in his new book Originals. So how do we strike the just-right balance -- whether making an entrepreneur or just trying to raise more creative, productive kids? Is the answer perhaps to immerse them in sci-fi books and video games? Well, J.K. Rowling could be the most influential "original" alive, argues Grant in this podcast... but not for the reasons you think.

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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.


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a16z PodcastBy Andreessen Horowitz

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