Speaker 2
When we compare the two statements, fake it till you make it. Is this really more celebratory? Hey, we're all honestly probably over our skis, but let's celebrate that versus, oh my god, I have such imposter syndrome. Fundamentally, those two different statements refer to the same, probably sensation. And I'm wondering because we're so focused on all of the miraculous transitions that you've made at OJ, I'm wondering, were there times leaving philosophy and going into banking or times leaving banking and going into B2B SAS operations, where you felt both, I'm thinking till I make it. And also, holy shit, I have such imposter syndrome. Talk to us about that. I think
Speaker 1
that's a great, great question. I, you're totally right. Like for most of my career, I've had this chip in my shoulder that I don't belong. Because I was, I went to Penn, where there were people who were studying Wharton, all right, and in finance. Whereas I was learning, reading about Immanuel Kant and like morals of human nature or whatever. And going to Wall Street, I was like, whoa, I don't belong. And I did think it's about, I did have to fake it till you make it, right? Making it means working even harder than everybody else to catch up. There was certainly some catch up to do, right? Same thing on moving into operations. Especially when I moved into the sales world. I didn't come up from Salesforce, right? I actually did what I left business school. I decided to do actually like a whole bag and actually be an individual contributor before Dropbox. So I understand that how hard it is. I wasn't good at it. And so I did think that I did have and struggle with imposter syndrome. Especially when there was a time at Dropbox when there was a role that I really wanted. And I was told that, hey, OJ, you've done, and I had this plan done a lot. I've generated hundreds of millions of revenue. And they said, oh, you don't have enough executive presence for this senior role. You know, I struggle with that. But by the time I went to SANA and where I really, really was able to thrive over time, I realized I realized this, you're not really, I don't think thinking until you make it is going to work. Because eventually that sense of self-doubt does creep in. And I think that's why if people have perceived me to not exude sufficient executive presence, whatever that means, which we can talk about later, I think that's probably why. Because there was that seed of self-doubt, right? And yes, it served me really well, but it was also my limitation. But over time at Dropbox, whatever you realize, it's you don't have to think until you make it, because most people have no idea what they're doing. Most people are making it up as they go. And again, they actually write books, right? And I talk about, like, I'm lying on this podcast now talking about what we did as a Vempo Some Genius. No, like nobody really does what everyone's making it up as they go. And it levels a playing field. And with that, I had more confidence to actually thrive.