The Tim Ferriss Show

#369: Kevin Systrom — Tactics, Books, and the Path to a Billion Users

Apr 25, 2019

01:30:27

Episode guests

Kevin Systrom

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Proving yourself and your ideas is more important than seeking external validation.

Facing rejection and doubts can fuel determination to push forward and prove others wrong.

Gathering feedback, even if it is challenging, helps improve ideas and execution.

Deep dives

Learning to manage 13 employees after selling the company

After selling the company and managing a team of 13 employees, I faced challenges and doubts. People assumed it was the end, but my love for the project and determination to prove them wrong kept me going. We focused on proving ourselves rather than seeking external validation. It was a motivator to show that Instagram was just getting started, and the sale was not the end of our journey.

Introduction

4min

Principles by Ray Dalio

2min

The Lean Startup Method

2min

The Importance of Doing the Simple Thing First

4min

The Origin Story of Instagram

2min

How Instagram Changed the Way It Worked

5min

Lessons Learned From the Mayfield Fellows Program

6min

How to Read a Book Effectively

2min

The Importance of Timing

3min

10.

Ev's Superpowers

3min

11.

How to Know When It's the Right Time to Stop

4min

12.

How to Recognize Confirmation Bias

4min

13.

How to Stress Test an Idea

5min

14.

How to Conduct a 360 Interview

3min

15.

How to Deal With Tough Times

6min

16.

How to Sell Your Company

3min

17.

How to Deal With the Competitive Nature of Proving People Wrong

2min

18.

How to Manage a Company

3min

19.

How to Handle a Meeting Like This

5min

20.

How to Choose the Right Books for You

2min

21.

The Importance of Reading Biographies

2min

22.

How to Launch a Book

2min

23.

How to Write a Best Selling Book This Year

3min

24.

Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make

2min

25.

How to Follow Your Passion

3min

26.

The Importance of Perception in Life

2min

27.

Fibolot Friday

5min

“I think a big part of knowing that you’re right is working as hard as you can to prove that you’re wrong. And if you can’t, well, there’s only one option left, which is: you’re probably right.” — Kevin Systrom

Kevin Systrom (@kevin) is an entrepreneur and the co-founder (with Mike Krieger) of Instagram. While at Instagram, Kevin served as the CEO, where he oversaw the company’s vision and strategy and daily operations. Under his leadership, Instagram grew to over one billion users and launched dozens of products including video, live, direct messaging, creative tools, Stories, and IGTV.

The company also grew to over 800 employees with a campus in Menlo Park, new offices in New York City, and a new headquarters in San Francisco.

Prior to founding Instagram, Kevin graduated from Stanford University with a BS in management science and engineering. Kevin currently lives in San Francisco with his wife and daughter.

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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.