How I got into Y Combinator | Summary and Q&A

Transcript

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Summary

In this video, the speaker shares his experience with finding mentors and offers advice on how to approach mentorship. He emphasizes the importance of helping others and giving back, rather than simply seeking out a mentor. The speaker recounts how his involvement in a startup event and his willingness to offer his skills and assistance led to opportunities that ultimately changed his life. He also highlights the value of being a great joiner early in one's career and the benefits of surrounding oneself with smart and talented individuals. The speaker concludes by expressing gratitude for the opportunities he has been given and his commitment to paying it forward.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker find his mentors?

The speaker never obtained his mentors by directly asking them to be his mentor. Rather, he found people he believed in and wanted to help. Through his willingness to offer his skills and assistance, he built relationships with influential individuals who provided mentorship and guidance.

Q: How did the speaker's involvement in a startup event lead to an opportunity with Y Combinator?

The speaker attended a startup school event at Stanford University and took photos of all the speakers. He then posted these photos online, which caught the attention of Paul Graham and Jessica Livingston, co-founders of Y Combinator. This ultimately opened up an opportunity for the speaker to join Y Combinator and have his life changed.

Q: Did the speaker formally ask his mentors for guidance?

No, the speaker never formally asked his mentors for guidance. According to him, this is not a common practice. Instead, he believes in the idea of giving first and offering one's unique skills to others without even having to ask. By doing so, he believes that what you put out into the world will come back to you in a magnified manner.

Q: What advice does the speaker give about becoming a great leader?

The speaker suggests that early in one's career, it is more important to be a great joiner rather than focusing on becoming a leader right away. Being a great joiner involves finding things that genuinely interest you and offering your skills to contribute to those endeavors. This approach allows for skill-building and sets a strong foundation for future leadership roles.

Q: How can one prepare themselves to be a great joiner?

The speaker outlines three steps to prepare oneself to be a great joiner. Firstly, one must have something they are great at, such as a particular skill or expertise. Secondly, they should follow people who they believe in and whose work aligns with their interests and values. Finally, by being a great joiner, one tends to attract and work alongside incredibly intelligent individuals, which can lead to long-term benefits and opportunities.

Q: How did the speaker's involvement with Y Combinator shape his career?

Working at Y Combinator as a partner for five years had a profound impact on the speaker's career. It provided him with valuable skills, experiences, and a powerful network. It became a launching pad for his subsequent career as a venture capitalist. The speaker attributes the path he took to his initial willingness to help and give back, and he expresses gratitude for the opportunities he received.

Q: What is the speaker's advice for finding mentors?

Rather than actively seeking out mentors, the speaker suggests finding people and causes that one believes in and offering their unique skills and assistance. This approach, rooted in giving and helping others, often leads to mentorship opportunities and personal growth.

Q: How does the speaker recommend approaching mentorship?

The speaker advises approaching mentorship with a mindset of giving first. Instead of asking for mentorship, individuals should seek to help and support others without expecting anything in return. By doing so, they may be surprised by the reciprocal benefits and opportunities that come their way.

Q: What mindset shift did the speaker experience?

The speaker learned the importance of recognizing that much of our lives are taken care of by other people. This realization led to a shift in mindset, embracing a mindset of giving and offering assistance to others. The speaker believes that by giving first, individuals can experience an abundance of positive returns in their lives.

Q: How does the speaker hope to impact others in their careers?

The speaker expresses a genuine desire to pay it forward and help others in their careers, just as people have helped him. He acknowledges the significant support he has received and hopes to provide similar support to others, emphasizing the importance of appreciating the opportunities one has been given and extending the same to others.

Takeaways

The key takeaways from this video are the importance of helping others and giving back, the value of being a great joiner early in one's career, and the power of surrounding oneself with smart and talented individuals. The speaker's personal experience showcases how opportunities and mentorship can arise from a genuine willingness to offer skills and assistance. By embracing a mindset of giving first, individuals can unlock personal and professional growth. Furthermore, the speaker emphasizes the significance of gratitude and paying it forward in order to create a positive impact on the careers of others.