Podcast Notes Key Takeaways

• The creation of new technologies and tech companies is the most effective Archimedean lever by which to improve the world,but as those levers become more critical to society–and this isn’t a standard belief—there needs to be more discourse with society
• One reason productivity and GDP growth have decreased since the late 1990s: Technology provides you with goods you otherwise would have had to pay for, but now get for free
• 99% of the time, reference checks > interviews
• Reid’s favorite question to ask a reference:
  • “What’s this person’s greatest weakness and challenge?”
  • “Is this person among the top-five people that you would choose to do a new venture with?”
• Crypto is here to stay

Read the full notes @ podcastnotes.org



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When Reid Hoffman creates a handle for some new network or system, his usual choice is “Quixotic.” At an early age, his love of tabletop games inspired him to think of life as a heroic journey, where people come together in order to accomplish lofty things. This framing also prompted him to consider the rules and systems that guide society—and how you might improve them by identifying key points of leverage. 

At first, he thought he’d become an academic and work with ideas as one of those Archimedean levers. But he ended up focusing on technology instead, helping to build PayPal, LinkedIn, and now many other ventures as an investor at Greylock Partners. But he still thinks ideas are important and tries to employ a “full toolset” when trying to shift systems.

Reid joined Tyler to talk about all these leverage points and more, including the Silicon Valley cultural meme he most disagrees with, how Wittgenstein influenced the design of LinkedIn, mystical atheism, what it was like being on Firing Line, why he’s never said anything outrageous, how he and Peter Thiel interpret The Tempest differently, the most misunderstood thing about friendship, how to improve talent certification, what’s needed from science fiction, and his three new ideas for board games.

In DC on Feb 17? Register for our next live show with John McWhorter here.

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