#376 Jensen Huang: Founder of Nvidia
Podcast Notes Playlist: Startup
23 Jan 2025
1:40:44
Key Takeaways
- Greatness does not come from intelligence; it comes from character, which can only be earned from overcoming adversities and developing perseverance
- Strategy is not words; strategy is action
- The Mission is the Boss: Nvidia exists to serve a mission and not for the sake of perpetuating its existence
- Refuse to be outworked and be unapologetically extreme in your dedication; working long hours is a necessary prerequisite for excellence
- Do what is natural and organic to you so that you enjoy it and can do it for a long period
- The Speed of Light Framework for project execution: Instead of judging performance based on past performance or against the competition, judge yourself against the theoretical maximum of what can be achieved in the minimum amount of time; the law of physics should be your only constraint
- Jensen tortures people into greatness: “The work” is the most important thing, not people’s feelings
- Hone the sword by seeking conflict: Opportunity handled well leads to more opportunity
- Innovation is a necessity, not an option
- Nvidia has a flat organizational structure that (1) Enables employees to act with more independence and (2) Filters out low-performing employees who are unaccustomed to thinking for themselves
- Ship the Whole Cow: Nvidia found ways to package and sell hardware that it previously would have discarded; this helped it mitigate low-end market competition and insulate itself from the innovator’s dilemma
- Complacency kills: The enemy is not the competition, but the company falling victim to complacency – both real and imagined
What I learned from reading The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant by Tae Kim.
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Ramp gives you everything you need to control spend, watch your costs, and optimize your financial operations —all on a single platform. Make history's greatest entrepreneurs proud by going to Ramp and learning how they can help your business control your costs and save more.
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Founders Notes gives you the ability to tap into the collective knowledge of history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. Use it to supplement the decisions you make in your work. Get access to Founders Notes here.
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“I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — Gareth
Be like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast
----
Founders Notes gives you the ability to tap into the collective knowledge of history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. Use it to supplement the decisions you make in your work. Get access to Founders Notes here.
----
“I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — Gareth
Be like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast
Key Takeaways
- Greatness does not come from intelligence; it comes from character, which can only be earned from overcoming adversities and developing perseverance
- Strategy is not words; strategy is action
- The Mission is the Boss: Nvidia exists to serve a mission and not for the sake of perpetuating its existence
- Refuse to be outworked and be unapologetically extreme in your dedication; working long hours is a necessary prerequisite for excellence
- Do what is natural and organic to you so that you enjoy it and can do it for a long period
- The Speed of Light Framework for project execution: Instead of judging performance based on past performance or against the competition, judge yourself against the theoretical maximum of what can be achieved in the minimum amount of time; the law of physics should be your only constraint
- Jensen tortures people into greatness: “The work” is the most important thing, not people’s feelings
- Hone the sword by seeking conflict: Opportunity handled well leads to more opportunity
- Innovation is a necessity, not an option
- Nvidia has a flat organizational structure that (1) Enables employees to act with more independence and (2) Filters out low-performing employees who are unaccustomed to thinking for themselves
- Ship the Whole Cow: Nvidia found ways to package and sell hardware that it previously would have discarded; this helped it mitigate low-end market competition and insulate itself from the innovator’s dilemma
- Complacency kills: The enemy is not the competition, but the company falling victim to complacency – both real and imagined
What I learned from reading The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant by Tae Kim.
----
Ramp gives you everything you need to control spend, watch your costs, and optimize your financial operations —all on a single platform. Make history's greatest entrepreneurs proud by going to Ramp and learning how they can help your business control your costs and save more.
----
Founders Notes gives you the ability to tap into the collective knowledge of history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. Use it to supplement the decisions you make in your work. Get access to Founders Notes here.
----
Join my free email newsletter to get my top 10 highlights from every book
----
“I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — Gareth
Be like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast
----
Founders Notes gives you the ability to tap into the collective knowledge of history's greatest entrepreneurs on demand. Use it to supplement the decisions you make in your work. Get access to Founders Notes here.
----
“I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — Gareth
Be like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast