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Geoff Yang

Redpoint Ventures, Partner and Managing Director
EPISODE 103

Learn how to assess people

Today’s guest is my friend Geoff Yang, the founding partner and managing director of Redpoint Ventures. He’s a legendary venture capitalist who’s backed companies like Stripe, Netflix, Sonos, and DraftKings … just to name a few.

I gotta say, Geoff really knows how to spot what ideas are gonna catch on. And in this conversation, we go into detail about what he looks for in a new idea and the big trends he’s excited about. But Geoff doesn’t just assess the ideas. He assesses the people behind them. He has to decide whether an entrepreneur has what it takes to turn that idea into a thriving company. 

So he’s become an expert at knowing exactly what traits great entrepreneurs have. And he’s gotten really good at assessing whether or not someone has them. That’s a skill EVERY leader needs because the consequences of making a poor assessment of talent and character can be pretty darn painful. But Geoff is proof positive that amazing things happen when we get it right. 

So if you want to know how to assess people, then you will love this conversation with my good friend, and soon to be yours, Geoff Yang.

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More from Geoff Yang

Hire for mindset, not just experience
Bring on people who listen and want to learn — even if they’re unproven. It’s often a smarter decision than hiring someone who’s more experienced but less motivated.
To attract talent, keep your hiring standards high
Great talent attracts more great talent. If you want to build an all-star team, don't lower your standards just to fill a job.
Have "healthy paranoia" about your competition
Don’t be dismissive of your competitors. Have your own convictions, but it’s important to worry a little about what the other guys are up to.
What every aspiring entrepreneur needs to know
If you want to launch a new idea, be prepared for people to tell you it won’t work. You’ve got to will it into existence with conviction, hard work, and a strong team.
Force yourself to make smarter decisions by operating lean
Having gobs of capital at your disposal isn’t always a good thing. It can actually keep you from making tough decisions and having a mindset where success is the only option.
Look for patterns where others see chaos
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by a rapidly changing world. But watch for patterns in all the chaos, because that’s how you find big opportunities.

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Short (but powerful) leadership advice from entrepreneurs and CEOs of top companies like JPMorgan Chase, Target, Starbucks and more.

Clips

  • Look for patterns where others see chaos
    Geoff Yang
    Geoff Yang
    Redpoint Ventures, Partner and Managing Director
  • Have "healthy paranoia" about your competition
    Geoff Yang
    Geoff Yang
    Redpoint Ventures, Partner and Managing Director
  • How to vet a potential business partner
    Geoff Yang
    Geoff Yang
    Redpoint Ventures, Partner and Managing Director
  • To attract talent, keep your hiring standards high
    Geoff Yang
    Geoff Yang
    Redpoint Ventures, Partner and Managing Director
  • Hire for mindset, not just experience
    Geoff Yang
    Geoff Yang
    Redpoint Ventures, Partner and Managing Director
  • Force yourself to make smarter decisions by operating lean
    Geoff Yang
    Geoff Yang
    Redpoint Ventures, Partner and Managing Director
  • Be aware of how the prevailing culture shapes your judgment
    Geoff Yang
    Geoff Yang
    Redpoint Ventures, Partner and Managing Director
  • What every aspiring entrepreneur needs to know
    Geoff Yang
    Geoff Yang
    Redpoint Ventures, Partner and Managing Director

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