PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

I often advise startups that it's better to seek deep appeal and create something that a few people love, even if most people don't get it right away.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Technology is more than just transistors and algorithms; it’s the patterns in our heads that drive the world and shape our reality.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Changing the patterns in your head can change your world, similar to how a small change in steering a ship can lead to a big difference later.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

We often overlook the small decisions we make daily, which ultimately steer us toward the big decisions that shape our lives.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Defaults are powerful; I try to keep certain principles top of mind to guide me when I'm confused or doubtful.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Believing that I already know the answer limits my openness to learning larger truths, which is a danger of experience.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Naive young founders often start the most successful companies because they don't know any better and are too arrogant to listen to experienced voices.

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Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

The best opportunities often lie in our collective blind spots, which may appear to be bad ideas or unimportant.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

In 1997, Larry and Sergey tried to sell Google for a million dollars, but the conventional wisdom was that search was neither important nor valuable.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Dogma and ideology can limit our thinking and innovation; escaping them is crucial to discovering missed opportunities.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

To be innovative, we need to evade the limitations of established thinking and be open to new ideas.

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Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

I liken internal negative loops in our minds to computer processes that consume resources; they can limit our potential and creativity.

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Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Before launching Gmail, many inside Google doubted its value and predicted failure, but we must not let such voices drag us down.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

To grow and reclaim our mental resources, it helps to clear out negative voices, even though they will keep coming back. Take a moment to observe your breath and enjoy stillness in your mind, dismissing the distracting voices until they fade away.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Our days are filled with spare moments; instead of filling them with distractions like games or social media, seek a calm and clear mind.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Accepting setbacks and moving forward, believing that whatever happened is for the best, is a strong predictor of success among startups.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Startups that face setbacks but can leverage them for growth, like Uber did during the taxi strike in London, often succeed where others fail.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Many of the best outcomes in life are rooted in initial failures; I strive to accept setbacks as gifts, no matter how improbable that may seem.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Choosing the more interesting path is crucial; when I first heard about Justin TV, I found it interesting enough to invest despite its initial absurdity.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Interestingness signals unexplored territory; great startups thrive in productive uncertainty, regardless of their ultimate success or failure.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Redefining success to include learning something interesting ensures that I always succeed, even if the startup itself doesn't.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

It's a mistake to sacrifice your life for a startup you don't care about in pursuit of an external success that may never come.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Instead of chasing unattainable goals, focus on loving what you do right now; it's about changing how you approach your work, not just what you do.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Having a goal-oriented mindset can make the journey feel like an obstacle; I enjoyed my time at Google because I loved building things, not because I was forced to work harder.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Transforming your relationship with activities, like running, can lead to enjoyment; I learned to love running by focusing on the quality of each step rather than the goal. An intrinsic approach ultimately improves the quality of our efforts, leading to greater extrinsic rewards when both motivations align.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Real work often involves unpleasant grinding effort, similar to parenting, which has 5% cute moments and 95% challenging ones.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

If we genuinely care about and believe in our mission, the difficult times take on a more heroic quality.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

While immediate and actionable plans are critical for startups, maintaining a meaningful and inspiring vision is equally important.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Maintain a healthy disregard for the impossible; this embodies the true innovative spirit of a company.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Ambitious ideas within a startup can create an environment where it feels like you're going to take over the world.

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Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Potentially impossible goals are more inspiring than realistic ones; I'd rather fail at something awesome than succeed at something inconsequential.

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Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

We have the technology and resources to make the world a great place for everyone, providing adequate food, housing, education, and healthcare.

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Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

Economically, we don't need more jobs; we need more innovators like Steve Jobs, enabling outliers everywhere to unleash unprecedented creativity.

PB

Paul Buchheit

07/31/14

@ Y Combinator

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; develop an independent mind to judge for yourself what is worthwhile.

Paul Buchheit

Takeaways