James Lo

How could Adam Neumann raise $350M, the largest single check ever raised from a16z, before he even has a product?

How could Donald Trump gain votes instead of lose them, while being investigated for espionage?

How could the Tinder Swindler Simon Leviev start a Hollywood career, when he just scammed innocent women out of millions?

In the age of social media, those devoid of integrity fail upwards.

About to fail? Fail notoriously.
Doing something stupid? Do it publicly.
Inciting controversy? Own it unapologetically.

We have built a society that rewards those who excite the extremes, who turn failures into confessions, scams into Netflix shows, crimes into persecutions.

In this economy of attention, the attention seekers win.

But how do we build an economy of integrity? Who will do it when the capital and eyeballs flow only one way?

At age 17, I rejected all my university offers and went on the streets to protest.

My parents thought I was giving up my future. My teachers thought I had finally, at long last, turned insane.

A year later, I had advised a political campaign, competed at a world championships, built a social enterprise, and won a scholarship that meant my parents would not have to pay a dime for my education again.

At age 25, I quit my job. Took a 66% pay cut. Walked away from fancy dinners, 5 star hotels and the mythical April bonus.

But just like it was 8 years ago, I feel more alive than ever. No matter how this adventure turns out, I know after all the credential-hunting and moral compromises, I am finally pursuing my life's mission again. This time, I won't stop until we have changed the world.

#entrepreneur #hiring #reflection