The Start-up Of You    
Reid Hoffman

Summary

How to think of your career as a start-up and advice from one of Silicon Valley's great entrepreneurs, the founder of LinkedIn

Rating: 3/5

Notes

It’s now your job to train and invest in yourself

Every individual is a small business

Think of your career as a start-up

‘Only the paranoid survive’ - Andy Grove

Success is fragile and perfection is fleeting

We are all works in progress. Each day presents an opportunity to learn more, do more, be more and grow our lives and careers

Develop competitive advantages in the market by developing your assets, aspirations and market realities

What are you offering that’s rare and valuable

Soft skills are ultimately more important than hard skills in the long run

Competitive edges emerge when you combine different skills, experiences and connections

Your identity doesn’t get found, it emerges through action

The pieces of the puzzle change in shape and size over time (assets, aspirations, market realities)

All advantages are local - pick a skill that has less competition

Work in a market with natural momentum - ride the big wave

Plan ABZ. A is your main job, B is your pivot and Z is worst case scenario

At a young age, prioritize learning opportunities over everything else

Think and plan 2 steps ahead, not more

For plan B, pivot as you learn

Start your pivot on the side

Always invest in your professional network

Relationships matter because the people you spend time with shape you are and who you become

Your network is bigger than you think it is

To strengthen your network, offer help to the other person with no expectation of anything in return

When looking for breakout opportunities, look for high quality people and challenges

‘The best way to make sure lucky things happen is to make sure a lot of things happen’

Get resourceful or die

Humans tend to overestimate risks, it’s hardwired into us

Short term risk increases long term stability

Who you know is what you know

Invest in yourself, invest in your network and invest in society

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