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I was in the room for Thiel's talk - I found that there were certainly some generalities that were construed rather irresponsibly; however, his most powerful st

I was in the room for Thiel's talk - I found that there were certainly some generalities that were construed rather irresponsibly; however, his most powerful statement throughout the talk was (Zuckerberg) "I don't know what I could do with the money. I'd just start another social networking site. I kind of like the one I already have." The raw conviction he has to his cause gives me chills. I'm not convinced he wouldn't do the same if the offer was 1.5B, 2B, etc. I think Thiel put it well when he stated "the best entrepreneurs, like Zuckerberg, have a definitive view about the future and plan for it". It doesn't have as much to do with luck as it does focus, conviction, and ultimately the drive to change the world for the better. I also don't think that the Founder's Fund philosophy had as much to do with his decision to back Zuckerberg as he takes credit for. If you're looking in the face of the next Franklin or Jobs - the decision becomes apparent that you (in Thiel's own words) "just don't fuck it up".

goldfeld 14y ago
Change the world for the better? Facebook? I'm sure ads a-plenty and the relationship with Zynga were all ploys to make the world a much better place for all.
- saraid216 14y ago
  It makes a lot more sense when you realize that Zuckerberg's better world may not be your better world.
dunmalg 14y ago
I don't know that it's "raw conviction". That's the sort of thing a tech-ignorant CEO needs. Sounds to me like Zuck simply isn't the sort of guy who is interested in being rich at the expense of not having something interesting to do. Like most programmers, he was probably having the time of his life playing around with a huge interesting programming project.
powertower 14y ago
> I think Thiel put it well when he stated "the best entrepreneurs, like Zuckerberg, have a definitive view about the future and plan for it". That only works if their future views come true. I'm going to have a "billion users in 5-10 years" doesn't help anyone much. And in no way can be predicted.
- joecurry 14y ago
  As said by Alan Kay - The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

goldfeld 14y ago

Change the world for the better? Facebook? I'm sure ads a-plenty and the relationship with Zynga were all ploys to make the world a much better place for all.

saraid216 14y ago
It makes a lot more sense when you realize that Zuckerberg's better world may not be your better world.

dunmalg 14y ago

I don't know that it's "raw conviction". That's the sort of thing a tech-ignorant CEO needs. Sounds to me like Zuck simply isn't the sort of guy who is interested in being rich at the expense of not having something interesting to do. Like most programmers, he was probably having the time of his life playing around with a huge interesting programming project.

powertower 14y ago

> I think Thiel put it well when he stated "the best entrepreneurs, like Zuckerberg, have a definitive view about the future and plan for it". That only works if their future views come true. I'm going to have a "billion users in 5-10 years" doesn't help anyone much. And in no way can be predicted.

joecurry 14y ago
As said by Alan Kay - The best way to predict the future is to invent it.