Lessons from helping people get $3M+ in higher comp — As a fun project, I’ve been crowdsourcing data on startup compensation. This sparked a bunch of requests to value and negotiate offers. So far, I’ve helped people get $3M+ (yes million!) in extra comp. Being in the front row of all these negotiations has been fascinating, so I wanted to…

How to turn cold stats into convincing stories — You have a 1 in 5 chance of winning. You have a 20% chance of winning. Actually, you have an 80% chance of losing. These are all the same numbers, but you probably had a different reaction reading each one. 1 in 5 suggests: maybe I could be the one…

Instead, look at org design and incentives — I recently moved into a new house. Within the first 24 hours, several flaws stuck out like a sore thumb. What’s striking is that I missed these details during multiple tours. 🙈 It got me thinking: touring a staged house is like interviewing with a company or reading their employee…

To take an idea from zero to one, we’ve got to fuse the engineering mindset with the product mindset — Every so often, I read an article that hooks me from the start. This is the story of a guy with a fantastic startup idea whose dreams were crushed by the market. Our protagonist, Tom, is clearly smart, which makes his story a useful example of how even the best…

Life lessons on money, envy, fear and change — I recently turned 29. Being in the last year of my 20s, I can’t help but wonder where this past decade went, and what I’ve learned. What follows are notes I wish someone had given me earlier. ‍ Dangerous defaults Defaults are all around you. I’m going to grad school because I…

You’re new, a little nervous, and want to hit the ground running. What’s the best way to spend your first 30, 60, 90 days at a new job? I made this detailed checklist last year which strangely found some traction on HackerNews, so I figured a fresh update would be…

Years ago, I was choosing between several startup offers. I ended up joining an early-stage startup that has grown into a multibillion-dollar company. The startups I turned down no longer exist. Did I have a crystal ball? No, I wish, but I did have a process for evaluating each opportunity. …

Early in the year is a fascinating time. It’s a sharp reminder that as a society, we worship setting goals, but we rarely question WHY we choose them. Goals don’t appear out of nowhere. Each one is embedded within a web of desires. …

Turn months and weeks into mere hours — Let’s say you’re building a product for high schoolers. You’re not sure if you’re on the right track. Do you: Make a list of high schoolers you know (aka your cousins) and call them Launch ads on Instagram and TikTok targeting high schoolers Build a referral program Option 1 means…