Smartcuts
Secrets of success from hackers, innovators, and icons
Description
In the 1860s, John D. Rockefeller took 46 years to become a billionaire. By the 1980s, Michael Dell reached this status in 14 years, Bill Gates in 12, and Yahoo's Jerry Yang and David Filo in four. eBay's Pierre Omidyar took three years, while Groupon's Andrew Mason achieved it in two, only to be ousted from his company.
Despite inflation, the trend is clear: success is achieved faster today, not through shortcuts, but through "smartcuts" - unconventional, smarter approaches to work. Shane Snow highlights that "hacking" one's way to success involves lateral thinking and rule-breaking for breakthrough change.
Table of contents
01Condense information
Individuals known as smartcutters exert an extraordinary amount of effort. They employ a mindset akin to that of a hacker, discovering more efficient routes to success that others have not yet identified. By eliminating superfluous steps, they are able to reach their goals more swiftly.
In the contemporary era, hackers are often viewed negatively; however, it is their innovative approach to problem-solving that is worthy of emulation. Unlike those who follow the conventional steps to success, hackers seek expedited methods to ascend to the pinnacle of their respective fields. This approach is mirrored by smartcutters, who similarly bypass traditional pathways to achieve rapid success.
Take, for instance, the observation that Presidents of the United States tend to be younger than the majority of senators. The average age of a U.S. President is 55, whereas senators typically do not secure their first term until the age of 62, with members of the House of Representatives averaging at 57 years of age. This raises the question: how do Presidents ascend to the apex of the political landscape before many senators have even commenced their careers? The answer lies in the fact that Presidents often do not ascend through the conventional political hierarchy. Instead, they climb a different ladder before pivoting to national politics, thereby bypassing those who are incrementally advancing through the political ranks.
This phenomenon is not exclusive to politics but is also prevalent in the business world. Companies that rise swiftly, CEOs who achieve celebrity status, and authors who become overnight sensations often outperform their peers by adopting unconventional strategies. Rather than adhering to established norms, they carve their own paths, transitioning seamlessly between industries with a blend of creativity and strategic acumen.
To comprehend how this process of 'ladder hacking' operates, consider the game "Bigger or Better," popular among college students. The game starts with a small item, such as a toothpick, which is then traded up for increasingly valuable items. This process illustrates the concept of 'small wins,' where individuals are more inclined to take risks if the stakes seem incrementally higher. This strategy of accumulating small victories is akin to the agility required to succeed in both the political and business arenas.
02Maximize utilization
Once individuals who are adept at finding shortcuts have successfully reduced their journey, they often seek methods to amplify the outcomes derived from their efforts. They discover ingenious strategies to scale their endeavors, tap into the fundamental dynamics at play, and draw upon the contributions of others. They employ the principle of leverage, enabling them to accomplish more while utilizing fewer resources.
Learning to effectively utilize platforms is another strategic approach to working smartly. Platforms can be envisioned as layers that manage repetitive tasks with seamless efficiency. By leveraging a platform, one can automate their activities, thereby exponentially increasing their productivity.
Take, for instance, the complexity of computers, which are built upon multiple layers of code to enhance user-friendliness. At the core of a computer lies the microchip, an intricate array of transistors that switch on and off. In the nascent stages of computing, developers would manually toggle these transistors. This process was later automated with the advent of assembly language software. Subsequently, operating systems were introduced to simplify the use of assembly language, which was then followed by the development of programming languages and, ultimately, applications. Each layer functions as a platform, facilitating more efficient work.
Drawing an analogy, just as driving on a paved road accelerates a journey, and layers of code expedite computer tasks, hackers in both business and life construct and identify layers of abstraction that enable them to amplify their efforts. Isaac Newton famously credited his scientific achievements to 'standing on the shoulders of giants'—leveraging the work of preceding great minds. Platforms serve as the tools and environments that empower us to do precisely that.
A prime illustration of the platform concept in action is the work of Danish computer programmer David Heinmeier Hansson. Renowned for his disdain for repetitive tasks, Hansson developed an extension for the Ruby programming language that automated mundane tasks and decisions, such as naming databases. He named this extension "Ruby on Rails," likening it to a set of railroad tracks that expedited the development of Ruby applications. Hansson crafted Ruby on Rails while collaborating with a modest American web design firm, 37signals, on a project management tool that would later be known as Basecamp. He also made Ruby on Rails available online, leading to its widespread adoption by programmers, including those who created Twitter. The ease of use of Ruby on Rails spurred its application to a variety of innovative projects.
03Achieve new heights
Smartcutters are individuals who firmly believe in the power of maintaining momentum. They start their journey by securing one strong position and then swiftly move to the next, persistently advancing until they discover the most efficient route to ascend to the pinnacle of their respective domains. These individuals understand that momentum serves as a more reliable indicator of future success than past experiences.
In the month of January of the year 2010, amidst the multitude of videos uploaded to YouTube, two particular videos stood out. The first was a heartfelt home video by Paul "Bear" Vasquez, in which he expressed his awe and joy upon witnessing a double rainbow above his residence. This video has since garnered approximately 38 million views and has been humorously referred to by the late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel as "the funniest video in the world."
The second video that made its debut in the same year was crafted by Michelle Phan, a 23-year-old Vietnamese American makeup artist. She created a tutorial video explaining the process of applying makeup to emulate the look of the rock star Lady Gaga from her music video "Bad Romance." This tutorial has also attracted around 38 million views.
Since their initial viral success in 2010, the trajectories of Vasquez and Phan have diverged significantly. Vasquez has uploaded over 1,300 videos on YouTube, yet none have managed to capture significant attention. He has made some sales through T-shirts but has not been able to capitalize on his sudden rise to fame in any substantial way.
In stark contrast, Michelle Phan has risen to become an internet cosmetics mogul. She is now the second-most-watched female YouTuber globally, with her videos amassing a staggering 800 million views in total. Her 5 million YouTube subscribers caught the eye of Lancome, leading to her appointment as their official video makeup artist. Furthermore, Phan co-founded Ipsy.com, a beauty sample delivery service boasting over 150,000 paying subscribers. Additionally, she owns a video production company that has generated millions in advertising revenue.
The question arises: what differentiates Michelle Phan's success from Bear Vasquez's inability to leverage his viral moment? Phan diligently worked to create her own momentum. She meticulously studied YouTube's homepage algorithm for months and astutely noticed that the homepage was not refreshed on weekends. Consequently, she strategically released her videos on Thursdays, ensuring they remained on the front page for the additional two days of the weekend. More importantly, Phan had already created a reservoir of content on YouTube, which meant that new viewers drawn by her Lady Gaga makeup tutorial had more videos to watch, encouraging them to stay and subscribe. By consistently providing her audience with fresh content, she was able to transform her series of videos into a full-fledged career and eventually her own business empire.
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