Marc Andreessen

I'll just say, look, I think people have different takes on this.

I'll just say, look, I think people have different takes on this.

My personal formula is basically as follows, which is you need high IQ as table stakes.

My personal formula is basically as follows, which is you need high IQ as table stakes.

Like you just need somebody who's like incredibly smart.

Like you just need somebody who's like incredibly smart.

My basic test is if I have my notebook open and they're talking, am I like writing down lots of notes or not?

My basic test is if I have my notebook open and they're talking, am I like writing down lots of notes or not?

And if I'm writing out lots of notes and I'm learning from them, then like that, that indicates that their level of, you know, intelligence and some of the other attributes that we'll talk about, but, you know, indicates, you know, clearly that they're very smart.

And if I'm writing out lots of notes and I'm learning from them, then like that, that indicates that their level of, you know, intelligence and some of the other attributes that we'll talk about, but, you know, indicates, you know, clearly that they're very smart.

But I think that's table stakes because I think just intelligence, you know, there are many people who are very smart who are just grinders or just, you know,

But I think that's table stakes because I think just intelligence, you know, there are many people who are very smart who are just grinders or just, you know,

The clerk mentality, you know, I'm going to put me in the back office somewhere or, you know, doing research or something, and I'm never going to build something.

The clerk mentality, you know, I'm going to put me in the back office somewhere or, you know, doing research or something, and I'm never going to build something.

And that's fine, but, you know, IQ is not enough.

And that's fine, but, you know, IQ is not enough.

I think the second thing you need really is what my partner Ben calls courage, which is basically an absolute determination to succeed and to be able to, you know, confront problems directly and to be able to basically pound through anything.

I think the second thing you need really is what my partner Ben calls courage, which is basically an absolute determination to succeed and to be able to, you know, confront problems directly and to be able to basically pound through anything.

And, you know, there's various kinds of ways to phrase this, but, you know, I think the Navy SEALs have the term embrace the suck.

And, you know, there's various kinds of ways to phrase this, but, you know, I think the Navy SEALs have the term embrace the suck.