Embrace Optimism for Progress

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Believing in a better future fuels the desire to accelerate change and progress, even on a small scale. The significance of optimism in innovation is emphasized, as it contributes to both the trajectory of individual projects and the collective advancement of technology. Historical context shows that computing innovations are often path-dependent; the emergence of certain solutions, like Shopify, shapes the technological landscape profoundly. Ignorance can be advantageous at the outset, allowing founders to pursue ambitious ideas without being deterred by low probabilities of success. Additionally, the time invested in education within the European Union reflects a different approach to innovation and entrepreneurship, suggesting varying cultural attitudes toward risk and success.

Tobi Lütke is the CEO and co-founder of Shopify. 20 years ago, he was just a German coder who emigrated to Canada to launch some ecommerce platform with another German. Now he’s the world-renowned thought and tech leader who has revolutionized online shopping for billions. He’s also the creator of many open-source libraries like Liquid, Active Merchant, and the Typo weblog engine.

Tyler and Tobi hop from Germany to Canada to America to discuss a range of topics like how outsiders make good coders, learning in meetings by saying wrong things, having one-on-ones with your kids, the positives of venting, German craftsmanship vs. American agility, why German schooling made him miserable, why there aren’t more German tech giants, untranslatable words, the dividing line of between Northern and Southern Germany, why other countries shouldn’t compare themselves to the US, Canada’s lack of exports and brands, ice skating to work in Ottawa, how VR and AI will change retailing, why he expects to be “terribly embarrassed” when looking back at companies in the 2020s, why The Lean Startup is bad for retailers, how fantasy novels teach business principles, what he's learning next, and more.

Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.

Recorded July 23rd, 2024.

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