#392: Ben Horowitz — What You Do Is Who You Are >> Lessons from Silicon Valley, Andy Grove, Genghis Khan, Slave Revolutions, and More

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Oct 24, 2019

Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz and author of "What You Do Is Who You Are," shares insightful lessons from Silicon Valley. He discusses the legacy of Andy Grove and the importance of mentorship in leadership. The conversation emphasizes the role of confronting conflicts in management and the transformative power of organizational culture, illustrating that culture stems from actions, not just beliefs. Historical examples, including the Haitian Revolution, highlight how leadership shapes work environments and employee experiences.

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ANECDOTE

Andy Grove's Journey

Andy Grove, a Hungarian refugee, co-founded Intel and shaped Silicon Valley's culture.
He prioritized PhD completion speed when hiring, correlating it with high performance.

ADVICE

Radical Candor in Reviews

Address all issues in performance reviews, even if previously undiscussed.
While prior communication is ideal, transparency is paramount for improvement and growth.

ANECDOTE

Grove's Time Management

Andy Grove, known for his directness, once told a late employee, "All I have in this world is time, and you're wasting my time."
This blunt statement underscored his value of time and set a strong cultural precedent at Intel.

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My American journey

Colin Powell

In 'My American Journey', Colin Powell recounts his life story, from his childhood as the son of Jamaican immigrants in Harlem to his distinguished military and political career. The book explores themes of overcoming racism, military strategy, and personal responsibility, offering a unique perspective on American history and politics. Powell's experiences include serving in Vietnam, the Pentagon, Panama, and Desert Storm, providing a firsthand account of significant historical events.

What You Do Is Who You Are

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In this book, Ben Horowitz combines lessons from history and modern organizational practice to help executives build cultures that can endure both good and bad times. He highlights four models of leadership and culture-building: Toussaint Louverture, the Samurai, Genghis Khan, and Shaka Senghor. Horowitz connects these historical examples to modern case studies, including leaders from Netflix, Uber, and McDonald's, to provide practical advice on creating and sustaining a purposeful company culture.

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In this book, Ben Horowitz shares his personal and often humbling experiences in the tech industry to offer essential advice and practical wisdom. He addresses various hard decisions and challenges that business leaders face, such as firing friends, managing company culture, handling layoffs, and making tough strategic decisions. Horowitz emphasizes the importance of honesty, resilience, and adaptability in leadership, drawing from his experiences with companies like Loudcloud and Andreessen Horowitz.

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