The concept of Ikegai is the intersection of what you're good at, what you love, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Finding this intersection can lead to a fulfilling life and career. Additionally, there are other intersections with interesting ways to label them, but the most satisfying one is the intersection of all four spheres. It's easy to choose a job or path where you have three but not four, which can lead to feeling like something important is just out of reach. Overall, Ikegai provides a great framework for thinking about life and career choices.
Tom Conrad is the CEO of Zero and on the board of Sonos. He began his career in engineering at Apple, where he helped build key features that remain in iOS today. Tom was previously the VP of Product at Snap and the chief technology officer of Pandora. He also held leadership positions at notable tech flops Pets.com and Quibi, giving him a unique perspective not only on what it takes to build a successful company but also on lessons from failure. In today’s conversation, we discuss:
• Lessons learned from the infamous failures of Pets.com and Quibi
• Lessons learned from the successes of Apple, Pandora, and Snap
• Advice on choosing where to work
• Understanding the math formula of a business
• How to avoid burnout
• Why Tom says not everyone needs to be a founder
• What he’s building now
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