Confidence Needs Humility: Why a VC Might Say, ‘If You Disagree with Me, You Are Right’

Sam Altman: ‘Most successful people have made at least one correct call about the future when others generally thought them wrong. Otherwise they would have encountered much more competition.’ Self-belief has extraordinary power. The most successful people I know have confidence in themselves bordering on delusion. Develop this early. As evidence accumulates that your judgment is sound and you can keep delivering results, place greater trust in yourself. Without self-belief, it is difficult to entertain unconventional views about the future. Yet that is precisely where the greatest value is created. I remember Elon Musk showing me around the SpaceX factory years ago. He explained how each rocket component was made, but what stayed with me was his absolute confidence when discussing large rockets going to Mars. I left thinking: so this is what conviction looks like. Managing your own morale and your team’s is among the greatest challenges in most endeavors. It is almost impossible without strong self-belief. Unfortunately, greater ambition also invites greater efforts from the world to knock you down. Most successful people have made at least one correct call about the future when others generally thought them wrong. Otherwise they would have encountered much more competition. Self-belief must be balanced with self-awareness. I once hated criticism and deliberately avoided it. Now I try to hear it on the initial assumption that it is true, then decide whether to act. Seeking truth is difficult and often painful, but it separates belief in yourself from deceiving yourself. This balance also prevents you from appearing entitled and detached from reality. #HowToBeSuccessful #Original link in the first comment ---- Robin: ‘Founders are often confident and optimistic. As a VC, I frequently say: these are my personal views, but if yours differ, you are right—do not let me sway you. Most VCs keep an open attitude toward new knowledge and continually improve their understanding. Founders, too, need humility, respect for what they do not know, and openness alongside confidence. There are far too many pitfalls on the entrepreneurial road that you do not know you do not know.’