25 learnings in 25 years

How philosophy and Jay-z got me to where I am today.


I wanted to write a story on some of my learnings so far. But building a story chronologically doesn’t work for me. So instead I decided to do a mash-up of learnings, aphorisms and statements I believe are true and can help others.

  1. One way to make sure you always stay humble is to consider yourself as a “work in progress”. Because when you look back a week, a month, a year and realising just how embarrassing you acted, behaved or proud stated something. You know by the given reflection - change occurred.
  2. People always have a point of view until…they don’t. Some call this hypocritical.
  3. Optimise for luck.
  4. Very few actually produce most people just consume. They consume TV, alcohol, news, status updates, gossip. If you spend most of your time producing you’ll end up successful just by the fact that you’re one of the few producing.
  5. When trying to explain what your product is - try start with: “Our product helps people…” - it makes you look sympathic.
  6. People talk and that’s not important.
  7. The toughest and most stressful periods in my life have always turned out to be the most rewarding and satisfying afterwards.Be it the first year of building a company or moving from one country to another.
  8. Sharing is key to success. The best chefs in the world are those who publish their recipes.
  9. Input is not equal to output. I’ve spent a lot of time on things that didn’t go anywhere and little time on things that quickly grew exponentially. You think working 80 hours makes a difference but I’ve seen too many smart people fail applying this thinking.
  10. Taking the right macro decisions matters more than the right micro decicions. Some American basketball players not good enough for NBA play successfully in Europe. Their skills don’t change but the market does.
  11. Try as often as possible to surround yourself with more talented people than yourself.Smart people tend to hang out with smart people.
  12. The imaginary obstacle is always tougher than the real obstacle.
  13. First it’s simple, then it’s hard and then it’s simple again. I stole this one from Jobs but it’s so true. I guess that’s why entrepreneurs continuously keep solving hard problems.
  14. Talking about hard problems. Hard things are valuable. Easy things are not so valuable. Finishing a marathon is rewarding because it is hard. If it was easy, everybody would do it.
  15. Sometimes things you’ve learned early in your life you have to spend the rest of your life un-learning. Old habits die hard.
  16. Looking at the solution instead of the problem always turns out better.
  17. I like Jay-z. When recording Blueprint back in 2001 he went into the studio and recorded 9 songs in two days. Actually the last part of the body text is from a Jay-z song - guess which one?
  18. You should spend more time alone. Spending time alone helps you structure your thinking. It helps you think about the right things. Most try to fill out their day with meetings, conversations, dinners. That leaves no time for reflection, contemplation and creation.
  19. Read more. Read more philosophy. The level of abstract thinking helps you approach most obstacles. And now most obstacles seems easy.
  20. You would be surprised how often time solves most problems.
  21. I’ve tried many cocktails but Negroni is my favorite. As Orson Wells put it: “The bitters are excellent for your liver, the gin is bad for you. They balance each other.”
  22. We all need role models. If it wasn’t for Musk, Jobs, Thiel, Dylan, Nietzsche, Da Vinci I wouldn’t be able to think better, bigger and more audacious.
  23. Whenever you’re in a meeting and one say: “I think we’re overthinking it” -then you probably are over-thinking it.
  24. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is a temporary condition.
  25. The most important asset you have is your network. Understanding the value and how to leverage your network has never been more important. You want to continously invest in the people around you, help out, provide introductions and when you need them they’ll be there.
  26. Travel often and have fun!
  27. People love the good story. People want the good story. You’ll be more successful if you give them the good story.
  28. I always quickly identified the most successful people in an industry (music, academia, entrepreneurship) and started imitating them. You quickly learn the lingo, the do’s and the dont’s and how to navigate and leverage your early efforts and talents. If you continue to do it for several years you’ll eventually meet your heroes.
  29. Focus is important. If you don’t have it you’ll lose it. Say no to most meetings, features, projects etc.
  30. Take time off. Work on other projects that excite you. The energy and creativty you gain will benefit your current project,your friends and make the world a better place.
  31. Always be a work in progress. Break your rules often.
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This Happened to Me

Written by Nicolai Watzenig

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