thank you Gary 😊 honestly as a fellow software engineer who worked in tech startups for the last 7-8 years, the distracting image problem within the industry had me jaded & burnt out for a while too. 6 months ago, i thought i was leaving tech for good to fulfill my childhood dream of being an independent film actress, and my startup background gave me the confidence to do it myself and make my first film (now in post). along the way, i found myself pulled back to a tech solution for a persistent problem artists, creators & filmmakers face. the deeper i go into the problem space, the more i find that it is something that could be universal & truly change the world, and intuively i know that this is my life's purpose, so it is time. as i continue to build out my prototype, i find myself having to let go of a lot of emotional blocks that i developed over the years and coming to terms with many things my intuition / gut tells me. your videos have given me a new hope for tech & startups. thank you 🥰

"Once you are liberated, you are forced to ask who you are!" Went through this questioning, all this year, and tbh the projections of what I really want to be are much better and clear than last year (a whole other story). Thank you Gary!

This is so true. Thanks for the reminder on this. I feel like too many people get excited by the destination and re-orient their life entirely to get to the destination, but the real learnings, growth, and patterns you want to have all come from the journey.

Huge truths. I see this all the time even in grad school. Choosing to seem like you are working is somehow preferable to actually creating value. Everyone is paying attention to the noise and everyone misses the signal that's needed to make real progress. This video is a reminder to myself to stay devoted to finding signal and keep creating value. Thanks as always, Garry!

This is exactly what my startup is experiencing when going for seed funding. I'm not the "usual" business man with their required background so they'll look aside. My team will continue to bootstrap and we'll prove a point 🙏

Hey Gary, I don’t know anything about business. I didn’t grow up around it and I didn’t study it in school. That’s why I love watching your videos and others in this space. I’ve found something that means so much to me and I know if it isn’t something I at least try to make a reality, I will only ever be able to think “what if” when my life is nearing its end. You mention at 1:14 that “this video will be about fundamentals so you don’t have to be a flash in the pan,” yet, I was not able to draw a clear conclusion the entire video about what the fundamentals actually are. Instead, I found it to be more related to what they are not. If I’ve never seen a dart or dartboard and am trying to hit a bullseye, and am told it is not a couch, not a tv, not an alarm clock, how will I ever succeed? This made me think even more. What if the reason we can’t distinguish the real from the want-to-be is because it’s something we’ve never seen before? The world had not seen a computer “in every house on every desk” before Microsoft, or cryptocurrency before Bitcoin. The bullseye we are all searching for is exactly what we do not know - foreign. p.s. - I would still have liked to know practical tips to build a foundation that holds even in the storm. Being part of your audience from a different background, “business fundamentals” are not clear to me. Maybe a future video?

Discovered this 3 years ago, when I was 19 at the time and stopped. Recognized that everything is filled with noise ( thanks to stocks ) . At this point, I can't even lie without feeling guilty and I'm happier than I've ever been. Also, having an unknown CNS disease for 1+ year. Definitely made myself realize that being productive matters more than talking, since I could be dead or disabled tomorrow.

I'm shocked by how much I needed to hear this. I work for a corporate venture in the fashion industry and throughout the past 2 years of interacting with fashion brands, I discovered a unique problem to solve for fashion designers. I have created a solution to solve that problem and so far the user feedback has been really great. However the corporate venture decides not to fund it so I'm in that intersection between bootstrapping or needing to fund raise when I only have a beta product and not looking like a successful startup. It's a constant dilemma every day whether I spend more time looking like I have a successful startup to convince people to fund me or keep improving the product and talking to users. I'm gonna keep choosing the latter. Thank you for your authenticity Garry. This is extremely uplifting.

This video needs to be shown to every startup founder. As someone who is going through the journey you described, it is a cold reminder not to stray off what you are truly looking to achieve. Thanks for an amazing video Garry

Thought provoking video Garry! Substance vs Signal. Substance deserve the riches; however, signal sometimes (more than I should) wins. Peeps are too busy seeking for the easy to recognize the great. This is a fundamentally difficult problem to solve, because peeps always want what’s easy to recognize. To not have to think hard. This idea spans from employment and startups to relationships and much more. How to change this? Hmm that’s a thinker. I believe you have to a combo of both, to reduce likelihood of challenge and help position yourself in a blue sea.

Keynesian Beauty Contest: it's better to look successful, than to actually be successful... (whew). I know of a senior leader like that man advising an entrepreneur: he was fiercely focused on style (i.e. the visuals of something) and was often aggravated with talk of substance (e.g. methodology or science). He was visionary and even inspiring, but his dismissal of the underpinnings of his vision put the organization at risk.

Man your videos are getting even better by the day. So simple and yet so shaking: startup culture is based on which founder shines more at pitch day than which product actually performs..

Great thoughtful video. You're absolutely right about focusing on the fundamentals, but you also need to display those success signals or you'll get lost in the noise. It's not fundamentals vs signals. It fundamentals AND signals.

In india a lot of deserving and profitable companies never get funded whereas a lot of loss making companies started by prestigious college graduates easily get funded in the name of expansion when they don't even have a proper foundation.

A straight shooter in the increasingly insane world of startup funding. Hope the craziness gives way to sanity to spur real growth with less frothiness. Well done Garry!

Real recognize real! well said and can't agree more. Noise is everywhere, but it doesn't drown out the shine from real. On the contrary, it makes me feel even more excited when I find a real one. It's like the excitement when the fish finally took the bait after a long wait.

Feel surrounded by this kind of thinking and pressure all the time. It always feels wrong, yet it’s hard to ignore. Shouldn’t be trying to compete for a contest and shiny prize, but rather create something tangible and valuable. Helpful as always!

This video speaks to what we see on social media. A lot of fake it till you make it. A lot of empty symbolism.

Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) prophecized this time: “Years of treachery will come over people in which liars are believed and the truthful are denied, the deceitful are trusted and the trustworthy are considered traitors, and the disgraceful will deliver speeches.”

Love this video, Garry. So much of what you said about the signal value phenomenon resonates with me, especially coming from a culture that fetishizes credentialism and academic / career prestige. The silver lining is that there is still time for deprogramming and discovering my authentic path!

That last part really connected Gary, amen! Real recognises real. ❤️

Working for “Corporate” for a year and a half was awful and this hit Home!! Told constantly to do what I’m told and stay in lane!! What a relief it was to leave!!

The problem is that our mind comes as standard equipment at birth. It’s free. And things that are given to us for nothing, we place little value on. Things that we pay money for, we value. The paradox is that exactly the reverse is true. Everything that’s really worthwhile in life came to us free and our minds, our souls, our bodies, our hopes, our dreams, our ambitions, our intelligence, our love of family and children and friends and country. All these priceless possessions are free. But the things that cost us money are actually very cheap and can be replaced at any time. A good man can be completely wiped out and make another fortune. He can do that several times. Even if our home burns down, we can rebuild it. But the things we got for nothing, we can never replace. - Earl Nightingale

this is the first video that I watch, and 'BAM'. So much truth in it. "All the glitters is not gold". Build the fundamentals. Signal value. I needed to hear this today. Thanks for setting the example, and share so much value.

Amazing as always Garry 👌 So much of this resonates with the message we preach and why we started our platform - we thank you for shining light on these matters and for bringing us the best content in this whole space 😀

Want to just quick add as someone who worked with ex-Theranos employees: they were close. The whole blood test market understands that there are major technological advances that nobody is tackling that could really change the game, like FMNP for ELIZA tests, CHO cells for antibodies, not to mention more moonshot technology from semiconductor industry. I'll give you that there was a lot of trying to appear like a successful startup, but another round of funding may have made them a successful startup.

Good one Garry, I feel the norm of trying to look good is becoming a major determinant of everyday life. Everybody is playing the game of protecting their legacy, public perception. The solution for me is to make decisions that will affect society in a certain way not based on what people might think.

Gary is a true modern day Philosopher. Thanks for highlighting the truth behind facade.

This is my favorite video of yours I’ve seen so far. Thanks. Regarding depth from experience and trial, if we zoom out and consider the depth and trial of humans who lived before us then it recalls the proverb “there is nothing new under the sun.” Predicting the future can just be looking back to history, abstracting it and instantiating it again in today’s medium

You stay simple and talk about complex things and gave clarity at the end :) Thanks @garry.

Very Insightful Garry, I see this alot with business and even relationships people would rather look like they are winning then actually be winning, it's crazy 📈

I'm building my startup, and was trying to follow common reccomendations from lean startup and the like (i.e. set hypotheses, do "experiments", "validation", etc.). I wasn't really convinced because my product is kind of niche B2B for medium and big businesses, so I can't risk my startup's reputation on those customers doing simple experiments just to gather some information. But then I thought, if i'm really trying to innovate, should I be following other peoples "methodologies", I mean, if I want to make something new, maybe I also have to make it in a "new" way. So now, instead of building "experiments" I'm building my product (in functional, sellable modules), and feel that is more real not just blindly following what "you should do".

This is a phenomenal approach to seeing the real ... I love it

This is more easier said than done ... It is true that the startups with all the right signal values will eventually have to face the music and sooner or later it happens ... But when ? When the wrong company gets to the top it destroys the industry , look at wework , it eventually came undone , but not before it got to the top and horded all the cash ... I wish this outing of the fakes got out earlier but in software , it's just so easy to fake it for longer ... Also once vc's are in , they don't wanna loose their investment and will call all their buddies to come on into the next round to keep the music playing .. what was said is true but there is so much minor detail in actual real life where alot of those who fake it still make it and where the main skill was the ability to have more contacts and raise more money , not necessarily the better product or business

we have to go back to the hacker mindset the excitement to create hacker stuff like in the homebrew club. It's like in hip hop at some point people want to go back to have street credibility. because rapper is becoming like a job like a lawyer or something that people do to make money. and startup is becoming like that people go on that path to work to make money but the hacker mindset is a long distant dream

Really loved the perspective here. Amazing video Garry!

Thank you Garry for this video. Right now I'm honestly struggling with the rat race of prestige, selectivity, and appearing capable instead of having the fundamentals right. This rat race gave me a lot of self doubt over the decisions I've made and my own competencies. However, it's helped me to realize who I am and what my strengths are.

You never miss Gary. I could never thank you enough for continually putting out such incredibly insightful content.This channel is invaluable to me on my journey as a founder. It's my dream to pitch you at Y Comb one day. 🙏

Keynes is describing a Shelling point phenomenon.

Thanks Garry. You are inspiring, as always.

Keynesian Beauty Contest one of the most useful concepts. Thanks Garry Tan

Thank you Gary for recognizing and sharing ❤️

I had to watch this video 3 times and take notes. Great content Garry! Thank you!

Mr.Garry Tan, you have become a very strong and calm influence for a lot of founders & young people. Continue to do this great work! It’s always an immense pleasure listening to you. When I am state side, I would love to meet you! Even if it means delivering a six pack to your office 😇

Hello Garry !!!!! listening to YOU and NAVAL is like doing TECH, WEALTH and MEDITATION at a same time !!!!

The very first thing to improve is to know where you are now, then to understand the causes of what got you there and finally to take actions to change your results. This can be a cycle loop to ensure continuous self improvement.

Thanks Garry for always speaking the truth and being real.

Thanks Garry for being brutally honest. I have been wondering whether there are any systems audit done on the startups that are funded by the VCs.

In a world of fakes, you’ve gotta stay real. 🙏🏼

Well I was expecting some truths (because you always give us truth), but I got truths and so much more out of this video! Real guru (teacher/student) stuff! This was great! Loved the end... I can't wait for more!

Zoom out pursue that which is fundamental - Humans we are creative creatures, lets get back to creating. - Thank you Garry

It's inspiring to see you do this channel and really believe that you are doing the content you want to make. Especially, because it is obvious that you don't have to do it.

So what exactly is the correction mechanism for companies playing the image but without fundamentals? Taleb, for example, argues in "Skin in the game" and other books that eventually a company will meet reality and crash (i.e. law of large numbers). But what ends up being that authority that crashes it? VCs? Regulators? Customers?

the similarities between acting and startups are so relevant. looking vs being.

Thank you for making this video. It reminds me to stay authentic because in the end, it's the only thing that matters. Stay authentic and focus for long term vision.

Amazing ❣️

If you are a founder, this is a great reminder. Build fundamentals of groundwork to reach new heights. Experiment, experience, and iterate your creativity.

Wow! Such great info, REAL info! Thanks a lot for sharing Garry!

Yeah but wouldn't you say that the onus is just as much, if not more, on the VCs than it is on the founders? Founders will always do whatever it takes to get a VC to fund them. Good sellers will always sell what people are willing to buy. If VCs invest in a way that incentivizes weight over fashion, gold over glitter, would you not naturally see more startups that are worth their weight in gold?

Thanks Gary moving to San Francisco in January to get in the environment and finished building my app. Your videos are very helpful insightful. Hopefully I'll bump into you around San Francisco Bay🤙🏾

Thanks for sharing, Gary! 🙏🏼✨

Huge Fan of @GarryTan! I've been enjoying all your videos and definitely taking your advice.

bang on again garry, i feel its the journey that eventually makes the person and not the destination. This filters those who are in it for the headlines or those who are really ready to task themselves in overcoming incoming problems creatively and solving REAL problems. Kudos

I now consider you my mentor Garry Tan! Whenever you are in San Antonio or Austin, please allow me to buy you a beverage and a taco!

Such a profound video and so true, didn’t Mark Zuck create a website called HOT or NOT which his fellow students could vote on who was the prettiest female student or not? And now look what FB has become vs the promise he herded the masses to about connecting people.

100% agree. A good example is Luckin Coffee faking its revenue. The fake will be spotted one day.

Garry Tan the GOAT with the best advice as always

You are really intelligent, man. I’ve been following you for a couple weeks now, and every video impresses me more than the last.

Garry Tan thank you for your awesome content !

This channel is getting even more heavier. Great work outstanding as always.

you are helping, one can hear the sound of your soul here, and that is enough. oh and the depth... right, sound of soul...

Garry Tan you made my week again!

Didn't expect to learn English from this video 2:50

This is awesome and soo true .. Thanks Garry ...

10/10 video. Thanks Garry.

Awesome video like usual Garry!

Thanks Garry

Great video Garry. The title doesn't make it justice. Sending this to other founders that are getting stuck in "faking it" and following the herd. Thanks!

Very true points about image. Valuation has always been subjective, but now it’s becoming more subjective than ever. There’s startups raising at huge valuations for their stage just because they have a big team. But how’s the team justified? What happened to quality over quantity?

So honest as well as authentic video about today's situation,.

Excellent video! Garry talks about real and important issue. Thank you!

Faking value vs actually providing it video in nutshell great job man really enjoyed it

Thanks coach!

Gary, keep what you are doing. Appreciate your content. Thank you.

Man I am making you my mentor and will be watching all of your videos in the coming weeks.

Does anyone else feel privileged to watch Gary's content!? Amazing insights.

You keep saying Baudrillard said but to us it's what Garry Tan said. I gave my critique once and so now I hope you will accept my compliments. Thank you

The most important video I’ve watched this month! “Let’s get back to creating”

Gary, what about the VC's who invest in 'cash burning, good looking' startups in hopes of flogging them off to other VCs/public markets?

Deep words to apply for my life and business, Grazie.

I am big fan of you gary, brother. Thank you for your valuable information , love from India.

Amazing as usual 👏👏👏

Thank You.👍👍

Hey Gary , Do you think SF is going down as Silicon Valley and it isn’t now worth to get started in as SWE ?

Great content. Thank you 👍🏽

Another great video!

Amazing talk. Thanks

Good to be grounded when investing

Beautyfull message!!

Amen! Love this. Thank you!