Naval Ravikant on avoiding mediocrity, Kobe on bringing the best out in people, and Facebook's first website

Welcome back to the Z Fellows newsletter! Every Monday we share 3 ideas - to help you build companies, ship products, and create your life's work.

1: Naval Ravikant on avoiding mediocrity

“You have one life, don't settle for mediocrity.

I think the only true test of intelligence is if you get what you want out of life. And there are two parts to that.

One is getting what you want, so you know how to get it. And the second is wanting the right things, knowing what to want in the first place.

If you're not careful, you can end up in a place in life, not only that you don't want to be in, but one that you didn't even mean to get to. That's if you're kind of proceeding unconsciously.

But how many people are?

I think people end up there because they are going on autopilot with sort of societal expectations or other people's expectations. Out of guilt or out of mimetic desire.“

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJue4BnVZAo

2: Kobe Bryant on bringing the best out in people

“I liked challenging people and making them uncomfortable. That’s what leads to introspection and that’s what leads to improvement.

You could say I dared people to be their best selves.

That approach never wavered. What I did adjust, though, was how I varied my approach from player to player.

I still challenged everyone and made them uncomfortable, I just did it in a way that was tailored to them. To learn what would work and for who, I started doing homework and watched how they behaved. I learned their histories and listened to what their goals were. I learned what made them feel secure and where their greatest doubts lay.

Once I understood them, I could help bring the best out of them by touching the right nerve at the right time.“

Source: Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant

3: Facebook’s first website

Best of The Week

See you next Monday,

- The Z Fellows Team

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