Establishing credibility in your cold emails can open doors; if you're in Y Combinator, that can be enough, but if not, mention your former schools or notable companies you've worked at.

Joining a startup gives you access to jobs you're unqualified for, which can lead to incredible learning opportunities and career growth.

Getting hired at smaller startups can be easier than at larger companies, and once you're in, you can connect with talented individuals and soak up the culture.

If you're ambitious and paying attention, you might not need to work at a big company or have a boss; you can control your own destiny during these unique moments of opportunity.

When you graduate from college, focus on the personal network you've built and ask for introductions to people in your industry, as this can lead to valuable connections.

To create luck as a pre-company, connect with and learn from as many interesting people as possible, and you need to do things that make you uncomfortable and actively engage with others instead of waiting for recognition.

I believe that surrounding yourself with people doing interesting things is crucial, as they will talk about what they find interesting, which is a good signal for success.

Internships at cutting-edge companies can lead to valuable startup ideas, as many successful startups trace their origins back to experiences gained during internships.

It's important to seek out great talent rather than waiting for them to come to you, especially when your company is not yet well-known or established.