1/ Responding to some DM questions publicly so others can see / contribute thoughts as we collectively think aloud…
“What should you do after college?”
Start building your moat*
* = Moats are somewhat exclusionary so I'd like to pick a better metaphor...
2/ As a reminder: Best way to build a moat is to start a company, which you can likely do sooner than you think:
But there are other ways--building specific knowledge, skills, and assets:
3/ Let’s say you just graduated college (with no network or legibility or specific skills) and, through sheer hustle (+ luck), you’ve been given an entry job at a high-brand opportunity.
It’s high brand, but not directly increasing specific knowledge/skills
Should you take it?
4/ I think the Q to ask is it will expose you to enough direct knowledge / skills opportunities over a short enough time span (i.e 2 years).
If this is your “get in the game” ticket.
Your price of entry to build your skillset, knowledge base, or asset
5/ IMO, most people stay far too long at these positions, even when marginal rate of learning is significantly decreasing.
Some people confuse brands & bridges:
6/ Zooming out : A quicker & more defensible way to “get in the game” is via acquiring specific skills/knowledge.
e.g of two archetypes:
Jared Seehafer has very specific knowledge about the FDA
Ron Conway is known as an elite generalist VC/angel + relationship-based investor.
7/ Using both of these two as archetypes (forgive the simplicity…)
In the past, to get to Jared (or even know who Jared is) you would have to know Ron.
Not anymore.
As information asymmetry decreases overtime, the expert’s leverage increases, the router’s leverage decreases.
8/ If you pursue skills, you’ll sacrifice network, brand, and short-term $
You may even look dumb:
You’ll toil in ascetic obscurity until, suddenly, you won’t.
And all these opportunities will come your way, and then more as your skill/asset compounds.
9/ Another DMed question: "But shouldn't I focus on building a network or brand?"
Only to the extent that it strengthens your specific knowledge / skill / asset.
Someone asked Peter Thiel about networking after college: “at 22, I didn't think it was important to meet people”
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