KEY TAKEAWAYS
[03:10] Steven’s own early approach to learning.
[03:44] Studying finance, software engineering, and social entrepreneurship, Steven was also interested in having impact.
[04:14] Steven focused on outcomes and productivity not work for the sake of it.
[05:12] Consulting and banking sounded like “busy work” without impact, so Steven started his own company based on artificial intelligence.
[05:42] Steven found it very rewarding to work on a high impact venture even if a moonshot idea.
[06:50] Friends on the entrepreneurship path tended to be happier and more fulfilled than those on the corporate path who were generally burned out.
[07:27] Impressions that corporate work is how you look like you are working rather than the impact you are achieving.
[08:33] Young employees in large corporations often feel disconnected from the impact they want to have.
[10:11] Steven has seen promotions given to leaders with larger teams resulting in unnecessary team expansion.
[11:25] Larger tech companies ballooned leading to lower profit margins and current layoffs.
[12:09] Startup dynamics contrast with few people, more ownership, and investment in efforts to collaborate and create impact.
[13:15] Side hustles are Millennials and Gen Zs safety net after growing up seeing their parents’ laid off, to improve their financial stability.
[14:08] Hardship catalyzed side hustle growth which also fulfills people’s desire to invest in themself.
[15:26] During the pandemic, the experiment of all remote work allowed interesting development of side hustles.
[16:30] The 40-hour work week is so old!
[17:08] Why outcomes are more important than hours in an output and knowledge driven world.
[18:39] It doesn’t make sense to timebox creativity.
[20:27] Reason 1 Young workers move jobs: I don’t want constraints when I can be productive WFH.
[20:49] Reason 2 Young workers move jobs: “Lifers” were shaken up with the recent boom to bust.
[21:54] The growth of the creator economy, gig work, and new classifications of employment.
[23:03] Steven’s views on the new type of struggle between labor and owners.
[23:43] Individuals have more voice and empowered to be more creative and not be forced into traditional occupations.
[25:35] Steven started at Instacart during the pandemic—fully remote (messy) onboarding!
[26:49] Learning to deal with ambiguity and chaos!
[27:22} How to be productive when working fully-remote - #1 Communicating well, especially in writing.
[27:39] How to be productive when working fully-remote - #2 Being organized.
[28:54] Remote/hybrid is a new game and you need to learn the rules to reduce friction.
[30:33] Steven shares experiences in startups and big tech companies, including rebuilding the Uber rides business.
[31:58] Mixed reviews for the back to the office moves, Steven recognizes that people do enjoy seeing their colleagues occasionally.
[33:05] Steven gives Uber empathy credits as they transition in 50 countries, hiccups are inevitable.
[34:32] Governments should rethink the idea of “an employee”.
[35:52] What DO workers want (looking at balanced and nuanced viewpoints)?
[38:10] AI GPTChat essays are not very creative yet – perhaps C minus graded papers!
[39:50] Focusing on skills for the future—starting in early education—to develop specializations across many critical needs such as climate change, food insecurity, and energy insecurity.
[44:14] IMMEDIATE ACTION TIP: Feed your curiosity engine and understand how the world works. Consider how your 9 to 5 job can give you a level of security and income while you explore other opportunities—a bifurcated approach can be valuable preparing yourself for an uncertain world.