This episode teaches you everything about scaling and investing in startups.
Alfred Lin is a legend in Silicon Valley. Currently a VC at Sequoia, he was the former COO at Zappos. In this episode, he shares everything you would learn from a business degree without the cost.
Learn the unusual hiring framework that built Airbnb's culture, the counterintuitive customer approach that fueled Amazon's growth, and the exact crisis response that saved DoorDash when competitors failed.
Essential viewing for founders and business leaders.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
01:07 Personal Journey: From Taiwan to Entrepreneur
02:38 School Days: Lessons in Creativity and Discipline
04:08 Infinite Games: Shaping Life's Philosophy
05:59 Core Values and Life Principles
07:56 Work-Life Balance and Family Insights
10:00 Inputs vs Outputs: Daily Routines and Priorities
11:43 First Order Issues: Problem-Solving in Business
16:33 Early Career: From LinkExchange to Zappos
41:48 Facing the 9/11 Crisis
42:11 Building a Profitable Company
42:37 Creative Financing Strategies
43:42 Customer Service Focus
46:40 Handling High Return Rates
51:18 Zappos' Unique Culture
53:34 Holacracy Management System
54:40 Maintaining Growth and Culture
56:24 Avoiding Complacency
01:08:08 Crucible Moments
01:11:15 First Principles Thinking
01:12:04 Navigating the Pandemic
01:25:24 The Essence of Company Values
01:25:51 Pros and Cons of Remote Work
01:27:39 Building Company Culture in a Hybrid World
01:30:58 Investment Strategies in Changing Markets
01:35:24 The AI Revolution and Its Future
01:59:43 Balancing Standardization and Customization
02:02:31 Working Backwards vs. Forwards
02:08:40 Defining Success: The Importance of Process
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Like the mentor you’ve always dreamed of having, The Knowledge Project shares timely yet timeless lessons for work and life. Past guests include Naval Ravikant, Daniel Kahneman, Jim Collins, Angela Duckworth, Seth Godin, Melanie Mitchell, & Esther Perel.