The most controversial statement from Jeff Bezos:
"Never be proud of your gifts," he insists.
He thinks your natural talents are worthless.
Here's his radical theory on how to be successful (and why most smart people fail): 🧵 x.com
"Never be proud of your gifts," he insists.
He thinks your natural talents are worthless.
Here's his radical theory on how to be successful (and why most smart people fail): 🧵 x.com
Picture this: Jeff Bezos, a promising young Wall Street analyst, surrounded by brilliance.
He's making six figures. Has job security. A clear path to partnership.
But something keeps him up at night.
The feeling he's playing it safe: x.com
He's making six figures. Has job security. A clear path to partnership.
But something keeps him up at night.
The feeling he's playing it safe: x.com
At his financial firm, Bezos watched "smart" people trap themselves.
They'd use natural talents to secure comfortable positions.
Then spend decades doing what comes easily.
He refused to follow that path: x.com
They'd use natural talents to secure comfortable positions.
Then spend decades doing what comes easily.
He refused to follow that path: x.com
One day, he walked into his boss's office – a mentor he deeply admired.
His idea? Sell books on the internet.
In 1994, this sounded absurd. The internet was still a mystery.
His boss took him on a walk through Central Park: x.com
His idea? Sell books on the internet.
In 1994, this sounded absurd. The internet was still a mystery.
His boss took him on a walk through Central Park: x.com
"That sounds like a really good idea... but it would be better for someone who didn't have a good job."
The message was clear: Don't risk your gifts on dreams.
But Bezos had discovered something profound about success:
The message was clear: Don't risk your gifts on dreams.
But Bezos had discovered something profound about success:
"You can have a job, or you can have a career, or you can have a calling."
"And if you can somehow figure out how to have a calling, you've hit the jackpot."
This led to his controversial theory about talent: x.com
"And if you can somehow figure out how to have a calling, you've hit the jackpot."
This led to his controversial theory about talent: x.com
Most people think natural abilities determine their ceiling.
"You might be good at math, or tall, or beautiful – these were given to you."
But these aren't achievements. They're starting points.
Like a poker hand – it's how you play that matters:
"You might be good at math, or tall, or beautiful – these were given to you."
But these aren't achievements. They're starting points.
Like a poker hand – it's how you play that matters:
At 26, Bezos told an investor his plan:
"I'm going to start a bookstore in my garage. I'm going to put it online."
The investor laughed. Online shopping seemed ridiculous then.
But Bezos saw beyond conventional wisdom: x.com
"I'm going to start a bookstore in my garage. I'm going to put it online."
The investor laughed. Online shopping seemed ridiculous then.
But Bezos saw beyond conventional wisdom: x.com
"You can never be proud of your gifts because they were given to you."
"You can be grateful for them, thankful for them."
But pride? That's for choices made when gifts aren't enough.
When you must grow beyond natural abilities: x.com
"You can be grateful for them, thankful for them."
But pride? That's for choices made when gifts aren't enough.
When you must grow beyond natural abilities: x.com
This explains why gifted people often plateau:
They build lives around avoiding discomfort.
Choose jobs that only use what comes easily.
Never push past their talents' boundaries.
Bezos suggests a different path:
They build lives around avoiding discomfort.
Choose jobs that only use what comes easily.
Never push past their talents' boundaries.
Bezos suggests a different path:
At 80 years old, he asks, what will make you proud?
A life of ease, staying within your comfort zone?
Or a life of service and adventure?
Of growing beyond what nature gave you? x.com
A life of ease, staying within your comfort zone?
Or a life of service and adventure?
Of growing beyond what nature gave you? x.com
He lives by a military phrase:
"Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast."
Don't rush to use existing talents.
Make deliberate choices to stretch beyond them.
Watch growth compound over time:
"Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast."
Don't rush to use existing talents.
Make deliberate choices to stretch beyond them.
Watch growth compound over time:
Most let inertia guide their path:
"Will inertia be your guide, or will you follow your passions?"
"Will you follow dogma, or will you be original?"
These aren't just questions.
They're daily choices that set your ceiling. x.com
"Will inertia be your guide, or will you follow your passions?"
"Will you follow dogma, or will you be original?"
These aren't just questions.
They're daily choices that set your ceiling. x.com
Here's the talent paradox:
The more you rely on natural gifts, the more you limit yourself.
Because talent has limits. Growth doesn't.
"Will you be clever at others' expense, or kind?"
"Will you criticize, or will you build?"
The more you rely on natural gifts, the more you limit yourself.
Because talent has limits. Growth doesn't.
"Will you be clever at others' expense, or kind?"
"Will you criticize, or will you build?"
Bezos's challenge cuts deep:
"Will you guard against rejection, or act when you fall in love?"
"Will you give up, or will you be relentless?"
These choices – not your gifts – write your story:
"Will you guard against rejection, or act when you fall in love?"
"Will you give up, or will you be relentless?"
These choices – not your gifts – write your story:
His journey teaches us something crucial about wealth:
It's not about following the crowd.
It's about making bold choices when others play safe.
This reminds me of today's opportunity:
It's not about following the crowd.
It's about making bold choices when others play safe.
This reminds me of today's opportunity:
While everyone chases unicorn startups...
Real wealth-building opportunities hide in plain sight:
Existing businesses with proven revenue.
Ready to be acquired and scaled.
Just like Bezos saw an opportunity in chaos: x.com
Real wealth-building opportunities hide in plain sight:
Existing businesses with proven revenue.
Ready to be acquired and scaled.
Just like Bezos saw an opportunity in chaos: x.com
I help entrepreneurs spot these hidden opportunities.
Because the best choices aren't always obvious.
Want to learn how to identify and seize them?
Because the best choices aren't always obvious.
Want to learn how to identify and seize them?
Join 50,000+ entrepreneurs getting private market insights.
I send out a free, 2,500-word newsletter every single week, sharing strategies on:
• Buying existing businesses
• Building wealth through private markets
Sign up here (it's free): walkerdeibel.com
I send out a free, 2,500-word newsletter every single week, sharing strategies on:
• Buying existing businesses
• Building wealth through private markets
Sign up here (it's free): walkerdeibel.com
Thanks for reading!
Follow @walkerdeibel for more business insights like the above.
PS. In case you missed it above, I send out a free, 2,500 word newsletter every single week to 50,000 acquisition entrepreneurs.
Master acquisitions HERE: walkerdeibel.com
Follow @walkerdeibel for more business insights like the above.
PS. In case you missed it above, I send out a free, 2,500 word newsletter every single week to 50,000 acquisition entrepreneurs.
Master acquisitions HERE: walkerdeibel.com
A bit about me:
I've built a career buying & scaling businesses instead of starting from scratch.
Author of "Buy Then Build" (Forbes Top 7 must-read). Now teaching others how to become acquisition entrepreneurs.
buythenbuild.com
I've built a career buying & scaling businesses instead of starting from scratch.
Author of "Buy Then Build" (Forbes Top 7 must-read). Now teaching others how to become acquisition entrepreneurs.
buythenbuild.com
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