Tags: Blog life-learning
I’ve never really liked the concept of role models.
the problem with role models
a role model gives you an answer before you have even asked the question. you look at someone successful, look at what they did, and then try to do the same thing.
but their path was their answer to their problems, at their time, with their character. copying it means you skip the most important part: thinking for yourself.
but if I had to pick someone
it would be Terence Tao.
if you don’t know him: probably the greatest living mathematician. gold medal at the International Math Olympiad at 13, Fields Medal at 31, and major contributions in so many different fields that most mathematicians can’t even follow all of them.
but that’s not actually why I picked him.
excellence, authenticity, impact
he represents a rare combination of the three.
excellence is obvious. world-class mastery, for decades.
authenticity is the rare one. he is open about the limits of his own understanding. he writes a blog where he thinks in public, including half-finished ideas. he says “I don’t know” when he doesn’t know. he doesn’t hide behind prestige, even though he could hide behind more prestige than almost anyone alive.
impact because he doesn’t keep it to himself. he collaborates with tons of people, runs open projects where anyone can contribute, and he is one of the first top mathematicians openly experimenting with ai tools for math. instead of protecting his status, he is trying out the thing that might change his field.
exceptional without pretending to be perfect
I really admire that mix of intellectual humility and world-class mastery. it shows that you can be exceptional without pretending to be perfect.
and I think this is especially important as a founder. there is a lot of pressure to look like you have everything figured out. in investor meetings, in front of the team, on linkedin.
but pretending is a trap. one of my most important learnings from fundraising: if you don’t have a number, say you don’t have it.
the people who are actually the best at something are usually the first to tell you what they don’t know. because they are not afraid that it makes them look small.
so what do I do instead?
no single role model. but I steal traits.
from Tao: humility and mastery at the same time. being curious about new tools instead of defending old ones.
and then I try to combine them into my own character. that’s the part nobody can copy for you.