I Never Want to be the Smartest Person in the Room

I always want to surround myself with people that know more than me.

I Never Want to be the Smartest Person in the RoomI always want to surround myself with people that know more than me.


I always want to surround myself with people that know more than me.

I think a lot of people like the feeling of being the “smartest in the room.” For obvious reasons, it feels good. You get to drive the conversation…hear the oohs and ahhhs. Shine in the limelight.

But I believe that that mentality is not sustainable and does not operate at scale.


In terms of Venture Capital…

I subscribe to the idea that investors should not try and predict the future but rather find people who will predict that future for me.

While of course I have my own biases and personal beliefs about what I think the future will look like — investors, I think, are not operators.

Right?

Investors should put their money in the right hands to build the future. After all, the founders they invest in will be doing all of the work.

So why then do investors look for companies that match their personal biases.

I believe that the best investors are not the world’s best predictors and ideators. They are not the best “innovators.”

I believe that the best investors are open to hearing the most diverse set of ideas. And from there, can pinpoint and believe in the future.

If investors could predict the future, then why wouldn’t they just build it?

By jordangonen on July 26, 2016.

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Exported from Medium on February 17, 2018.