Hampus Jakobsson on Playing the Game of Life (Episode 40)
May 5, 2023
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Venture capitalist Hampus Jakobsson discusses Stoicism and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of playing life like a single-player game and overcoming the fear of failure. He also touches on the challenges of identity, caring too much about others' opinions, and knowing when to quit. Insights on misconceptions about companies and the value of role models in personal growth.
Stoicism fosters resilience by shifting focus from external validations to internal values and character building.
Emulating admired traits of a sage or role model strengthens self-trust and resilience toward desired outcomes.
Structured habit formation through time-boxed commitments enables deep exploration and adaptive identities for self-evolution.
Deep dives
Stoicism and Care Column
Stoicism is a practice that encourages caring less about what others think without disregarding their importance. It teaches to reduce stress by focusing less on external opinions and followers, emphasizing on internal character building and virtue cultivation. The philosophy provides methods to shift focus from external validations to internal values, enabling individuals to handle life's challenges resiliently. Applying stoicism as a tool aids in solving problems, building habits, and incorporating eternal questions into daily life.
Imagining a Sage and Building Resilience
An effective practice in stoicism involves envisioning a sage or role model to observe personal actions and provide guidance. This contemplation assists in expanding one's behavior and values by observing and emulating admired traits. Encouraging vulnerability and taking on incremental challenges aligns actions with aspirational identities. By envisioning a mentor's actions and responses, individuals can strengthen self-trust and resilience while aligning behaviors towards desired outcomes.
Time-Boxed Obsessions and Adaptive Identities
Engaging in focused obsessions for a set duration, followed by distilled daily actions, allows for deep exploration and habit formation. Time-boxed commitments provide intense learning experiences and help transition key learnings into sustainable practices. By starting with intensive immersions and gradually simplifying behaviors, individuals can internalize profound changes and adaptive identities through consistent, manageable actions. This structured approach fosters self-evolution, aligning aspirations with achievable daily habits.
Quitting and Knowing When to Stop
Quitting is a crucial decision that requires careful consideration. The podcast discusses the importance of recognizing when to quit endeavors that may be harmful or unfulfilling. By reflecting on personal experiences, the speaker highlights the significance of being willing to let go of pursuits that no longer align with one's well-being and values. Embracing quitting as a positive choice can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of one's true priorities.
Differentiating Company Types and Goals
The podcast delves into the misconceptions surrounding running companies and highlights the need to differentiate between various types of companies. Lifestyle companies focus on creating a fulfilling and balanced work environment, while corporation companies aim for scalability and profit. Exponential companies, often synonymous with startups, prioritize rapid growth and innovation. Understanding the distinct goals of each type can help individuals align their entrepreneurial endeavors with their desired outcomes and values.
In this episode, Caleb speaks with Hampus Jakobsson. Hampus is a venture capitalist and serial entrepreneur. He is currently a general partner at Pale Blue Dot.
We talk about Stoicism and entrepreneurship. It’s a practical discussion centering on how to use Stoicism as a tool to accomplish your goals. You’ll get a number of tactics you can use to solve problems, build habits, and hear how a leading investor and entrepreneur thinks.