Ben Gilbert: belief

Transcript context

…I think that’s right. That was actually my next one. They do iterative product development. They put the first version out just to get feedback, see how they need to rev it, and get better for the future. The early days are characterized by hiring all the smartest people and prioritizing IQ over everything else. Commoditizing your compliment. Obsession with building a platform that other developers build on top of this whole thing about multiple bets in an uncertain future. It’s funny. They were building Messenger internally, they bought WhatsApp. I bet they’re glad that they had that dual prong strategy. They were developing an app called Photos at the same time that they bought Instagram. That’s what they do. It’s Gates-eyin. The most interesting thing that I think hit me in the face like a ton of bricks, Zuck after all the 2016 election fallout, the shift in public perception, and having to do all this testifying, is like watching an alternate future for Microsoft where Bill Gates had decided to stay at the helm instead of leaving after the DOJ case. That is the biggest difference, is they both went through this hellish period. Mark came out of it and said, I’m more bought in than ever, and Bill came out of it and said, Steve, you’re the CEO now.…

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