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Just build things and find out if they work.

Ben Silbermann

I thought Google was the coolest place. People there were so smart and they were all doing these really interesting things. I just felt really lucky to be a part of it even in a small way.
BEN SILBERMANN

Interesting People Smart
I was obsessed with this idea that these things that you collect, they just say so much about who you are. I can’t say it came from hard-nosed business analysis… It was just something I really want to see built.
BEN SILBERMANN

Analysis Ideas Want
What you collect says so much about who you are.
BEN SILBERMANN

Collect Much Say
Most people generalize whatever they did, and say that was the strategy that made it work.
BEN SILBERMANN

Made People Strategy
As a kid, I always idolized entrepreneurs. I thought they were cool people in the way that I thought basketball players were cool people. It’s cool that some people get paid to dunk basketballs, but I’m not one of those people.
BEN SILBERMANN

Basketball Kids Player
Just build things and find out if they work.
BEN SILBERMANN

Entrepreneur Starting Work
Don’t take too much advice. Most people who have a lot of advice to give ~ with a few exceptions ~ generalize whatever they did. Don’t over-analyze everything. I myself have been guilty of over-thinking problems. Just build things and find out if they work.
BEN SILBERMANN

Business Giving Thinking
I used to wake up and look at our analytics and think, “What if yesterday was the last day anyone used Pinterest?” Like, everyone collectively decided, “We’re done!” Over time I got more confidence.
BEN SILBERMANN

Anyone Thinking Yesterday
Don’t take too much advice.
BEN SILBERMANN

Advice Entrepreneur Levers
I kind of think of engineering like the chefs at a restaurant. Nobody’s going to deny chefs are integrally important, but there’s also so many other people who contribute to a great meal.
BEN SILBERMANN

Engineering People Thinking
There’s a lot of pressure to look like the last company that was successful.
BEN SILBERMANN

Entrepreneur Looks Successful
I think anyone who makes products has this simultaneous joy and, almost, shame looking at it. You look at it all day and all you can see is all these things you want to make better.
BEN SILBERMANN

Joy Looks Thinking
I’d never managed anyone before, so I don’t have a lot of experience. But I’m lucky – I have a lot of team members who have a really honest relationship with me.
BEN SILBERMANN

Experience Honest Lucky Team
You think you’re going to Toledo but you’re actually going to Miami and you might not have enough gas so you might need to buy gas from someone who might take you out if you aren’t driving well
BEN SILBERMANN

Country Driving Enough Gas Someone
One of the things I’ve learned is to be receptive of feedback.
BEN SILBERMANN

Inspirational Inspiring Learn
People say doing a startup is like a marathon. It’s actually a roadtrip at night with no headlights.
BEN SILBERMANN

Night People Thinking

Just build things and find out if they work.

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Just build things and find out if they work.

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