Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career

How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)

220 snips

Jan 11, 2024

In this engaging discussion, Sam Schillace, Deputy CTO at Microsoft and creator of Google Docs, shares insights from his remarkable tech journey. He delves into the evolution of Google Docs, discussing the value of embracing risk and the joy of creative problem-solving. Sam emphasizes the importance of optimism and playful experimentation in innovation, reflecting on Microsoft's collaborative culture under Satya Nadella. He also touches on why asking 'what if' can spark breakthroughs, urging listeners to pursue their passions for career fulfillment.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

First Google Doc

Sam Schillace has the first Google Doc, created in C# before Google acquired Writely.
It still works despite multiple backend and frontend migrations, containing a test message and a picture of Edna from The Incredibles.

ANECDOTE

Stealthy Migration

Writely's migration to Google's infrastructure went unnoticed, even by Google.
Sergey Brin asked about the migration three days after it was completed.

INSIGHT

Disruptive Innovation

Disruptive innovations are initially threatening because they challenge existing worldviews.
People tend to ask “why not” questions instead of “what if” questions, hindering innovation.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Invisible Cities

Italo Calvino

Invisible Cities is a novel by Italo Calvino that defies traditional narrative structures. The book revolves around the conversations between Marco Polo and Kublai Khan, where Polo describes 55 imaginary cities he encountered during his travels. These cities are not just physical places but also metaphors for human experiences, desires, and the passage of time. The novel explores themes of memory, place, and the subjective nature of experience, highlighting how our perceptions of cities and the world are shaped by our personal histories and biases. The cities described by Polo are often reflections of his home city, Venice, and serve as vehicles for Calvino's commentary on human nature, culture, and the limits of communication[1][3][4].

Where Good Ideas Come From

The Natural History of Innovation

Steven Johnson

In 'Where Good Ideas Come From', Steven Johnson delves into the natural history of innovation by identifying seven key patterns: the adjacent possible, liquid networks, the slow hunch, serendipity, error, exaptation, and platforms. Johnson argues that innovative ideas often result from slow hunches that develop over time through interactions within 'liquid networks' of diverse minds. He also highlights the importance of environments that facilitate the mixing and mingling of ideas, such as big cities, which are more innovative due to their superlinear scaling of creativity. The book draws on historical examples and contemporary cases to illustrate how these patterns contribute to groundbreaking innovations.

Poor Charlie's Almanack

The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger

Charles T. Munger

Peter D. Kaufman

Originally published in 2005, Poor Charlie's Almanack is a collection of eleven talks delivered by Charles T. Munger between 1986 and 2007. Edited by Peter D. Kaufman, this book draws on Munger's extensive knowledge across various fields to provide a framework for rational and rigorous approaches to life, learning, and decision-making. It is renowned for its sharp wit and rhetorical flair, making it an essential read for investors, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking to enhance their wisdom and critical thinking skills.

The wasp factory

Iain M. Banks

The Wasp Factory is a dark and twisted novel that follows the disturbing thoughts and actions of a teenage boy named Frank, who lives on a remote Scottish island. The story delves into themes of identity, family, and the nature of evil, revealing a tragic tale of isolation and insanity. Frank's life unravels dramatically with the return of his unstable brother, Eric, and the revelation of his own complex past.