The Bible helps Peter Thiel find secrets.
It's taught him to look for the kinds of world-changing ideas that've made him one of the world's most successful investors.
Here's how you can also find secrets:
It's taught him to look for the kinds of world-changing ideas that've made him one of the world's most successful investors.
Here's how you can also find secrets:
Thiel's definition of secrets isn't the one you grew up with. He’s not talking about spreading gossip or talking behind people’s backs. Rather, he's talking about important truths about the world that other people don't realize.
Thiel's obsession with secrets is famous in this interview question: What important truth do very few people agree with you on?”
The answers are keys into hidden chambers of knowledge, free from the distortions of lies and propaganda.
The answers are keys into hidden chambers of knowledge, free from the distortions of lies and propaganda.
https://twitter.com/david_perell/status/1222034685351616513?s=20
Where does Thiel's obsession with secrets come from?
It partially comes from the New Testament. Specifically, Proverbs 25:2 says: "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”
That search is defined by the quest for secrets.
It partially comes from the New Testament. Specifically, Proverbs 25:2 says: "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”
That search is defined by the quest for secrets.
Why will secrets always exist?
I like to imagine that every person has their own map of the way the world works. Everybody’s map is incomplete, either because they lack information or are blinded by dogma — just think of your family members who still don’t understand Bitcoin.
I like to imagine that every person has their own map of the way the world works. Everybody’s map is incomplete, either because they lack information or are blinded by dogma — just think of your family members who still don’t understand Bitcoin.
Thiel capitalizes on secrets by investing in startups.
He writes: "Every great business is built around a secret that’s hidden from the outside. A great company is a conspiracy to change the world; when you share your secret, the recipient becomes a fellow conspirator.”
He writes: "Every great business is built around a secret that’s hidden from the outside. A great company is a conspiracy to change the world; when you share your secret, the recipient becomes a fellow conspirator.”
To find secrets, be skeptical of consensus.
In the Bible, every time people unanimously agree on something, they are wrong. Remember the Tower of Babel?
Likewise, in Ancient Jewish law, if a suspect on trial was unanimously found guilty by all judges, the suspect was acquitted.
In the Bible, every time people unanimously agree on something, they are wrong. Remember the Tower of Babel?
Likewise, in Ancient Jewish law, if a suspect on trial was unanimously found guilty by all judges, the suspect was acquitted.
Skeptical of consensus, Thiel says: “We always think that democracy is a good thing and in a Democracy, the majority is more right than wrong. 51% is more right than 49%. 70% is even more right. But if you get to 99.9%, maybe that’s totally right. Or maybe you’re in North Korea.”
How can you find secrets?
Interrogate dogma. Surround yourself with independent thinkers. Look for patterns that cause humanity’s sense-making apparatus to malfunction, and live in search of the truth.
The juiciest secret of all is that there are many secrets left to find.
Interrogate dogma. Surround yourself with independent thinkers. Look for patterns that cause humanity’s sense-making apparatus to malfunction, and live in search of the truth.
The juiciest secret of all is that there are many secrets left to find.
I wrote extensively about secrets in this article.
My favorite example of a secret comes from the smartphone battle between Nokia and Apple, which I discuss in the article. Nokia fell off the map. Apple became the most valuable company in the world.
theprofile.substack.com/p/peter-thiel-…
My favorite example of a secret comes from the smartphone battle between Nokia and Apple, which I discuss in the article. Nokia fell off the map. Apple became the most valuable company in the world.
theprofile.substack.com/p/peter-thiel-…
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