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Facebooks initial public offering has focused yet another spotlight on the social networking site and on Mark Zuckerberg, its iconic leader. But beyond the hoopla surrounding the IPO, theres another, quieter story to be found in the wunderkind CEO: The lessons about life, personal finance and career that can be gleaned from his choices.
David Kirkpatrick, author of The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That is Connecting the World — the only book about the site written with Zuckerbergs full cooperation — offers an insiders view of what we can learn from the 27-year-old billionaire, while challenging some of the conventional wisdom on the inscrutable entrepreneur.
Here, according to Kirkpatrick, are the key ingredients in Zuckerbergs recipe for success.
1. Believe in Yourself
It may sound trite, but its old-fashioned positive thinking that propelled an idea hatched in a college dorm room into arguably the most influential business of the 21st century.
Zuckerberg had an extraordinary conviction that he could make his dreams become a reality, Kirkpatrick says. It is impossible to underestimate the degree to which that is central to his success. He always knew hed make a massive [impact] on society.
And contrary to public perceptions heavily influenced by the movie The Social Network, Zuckerberg isnt arrogant, Kirkpatrick says — hes just incredibly confident.
2. Just Get It Done — Even If It Isnt Perfect
The goal of perfection is the kiss of death for so many projects, Kirkpatrick says.
By contrast, Zuckerberg operates by the conviction that its better to be decisive than right. He doesnt let failure get him down.
Mistakes are bound to get made, and thats OK with Zuckerberg. He figures he can always tweak things later.
Zuckerberg himself discussed this philosophy — what he calls The Hacker Way — in a letter to prospective investors that was part of Facebooks IPO filing. Hackers try to build the best services over the long term by quickly releasing and learning from smaller iterations rather than trying to get everything right all at once, he wrote. He is so committed to this philosophy that he had it painted on Facebooks walls: Done is better than perfect.
3. Stick to Your Vision and Tune Out the Naysayers
Time and time again, Zuckerberg has been in positions when everyone around him was saying he would fail and that he was overreaching, Kirkpatrick says.
He always had a vision that the site would be more than just a social network for college students, even when the adults in the company poo-poohed his ambitions.
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