Skip to main content

10 lessons from the book The Founders

 The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley by Jimmy Soni

1. Be willing to take risks
Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Max Levchin, and the other founders of PayPal were all willing to take big risks in order to build their company. They left their jobs, invested their own money, and worked long hours in a cramped office.

2. Be relentless
The founders of PayPal were never satisfied with the status quo. They were constantly innovating and looking for ways to improve their product.

3. Be resourceful
 The founders of PayPal didn't have a lot of money, but they were resourceful and found ways to make things work. They used off-the-shelf hardware and software, and they even built their own servers.

4. Be passionate
 The founders of PayPal were passionate about their mission to build a new way to pay online. They were driven by the desire to make a difference in the world.

5. Be competitive
The founders of PayPal were fiercely competitive. They were always looking for ways to beat their rivals.

6. Be adaptable
 The founders of PayPal were able to adapt to change quickly. When the market shifted, they changed their strategy accordingly.

7. Be willing to learn
 The founders of PayPal were always learning new things. They were constantly reading books and articles, and they were always talking to experts.

8. Be willing to fail
The founders of PayPal failed many times before they succeeded. But they learned from their failures and kept going.

9. Be humble
The founders of PayPal were humble. They knew that they didn't know everything, and they were always willing to listen to advice from others.

10. Be grateful
The founders of PayPal were grateful for the success of their company. They knew that they were lucky to have such a talented team and such supportive investors.

Soni's book is a fascinating look at the early days of PayPal and the people who built it. It is a story of innovation, perseverance, and success

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Take care of yourself__"The first wealth is health".

By Strive Masiyiwa  A few weeks ago I went to the doctor. I will tell you what he said about my health at the end, but first read this: Twenty years ago, I arranged to meet a well-known British international businessman who invested a lot in Africa at the time. We agreed to meet for dinner at a leading hotel in London.  After a good meeting, we started to walk out of the restaurant when he suddenly collapsed in the lobby. There was total pandemonium as they rushed to get medical assistance. Being London, an ambulance arrived in minutes. I jumped in the back with him as paramedics wrestled to keep him alive. He had had a heart attack and had to have triple bypass heart surgery. Sadly he died a few weeks later. He hadn't been sick and his sudden death surprised everyone. And yet as I reflected on it, and later discussed it with a doctor friend who knew him, I realized he was very laid back about his health despite having a hectic business life. Even during our dinner...

WHERE TO BUY THINGS AT A BARGAIN IN NAIROBI

 1.Cereals – Get them in Nyamakima in that kichochoro for Molo matatus. Groundnuts from the market cost Sh190 per kilo, but at Nyamakima they are Sh110. You can also get apples and other fruits at a good price. 2.  Diapers and bar soap – OTC. The kichochoro between Tuskys and Equity.  3. Chemicals for homemade detergent, bleach, fabric softener, disinfectant – OTC, the building with Tuskys, go upstairs, first floor. They will even explain how to mix them.  4. Bulk shopping – If you can manage to go to Kawangware or Eastleigh, you will save a lot. In Kawangware, go to Samrose in the market. Alight at Mlango Soko, then at Cooperative Bank, go down and turn at the first right turn, walk about 20 metres and you will find SamRose. Go with a list, they will give you the prices. If you are buying things for a shop, they deliver. Alternatively, you can turn left and walk a bit for like 100 metres where you will find many wholesale shops including FairPrice. Also look out for Israel. In Eastlei...