TOP 10 LESSONS FROM FACEBOOK
While our introduction to Facebook was accented by two NDAs, a scanning of our driver’s licenses, and even a sign in screen that used Facebook, Kunal Merchant greeted us like we were all close friends. With a warm smile and a calm demeanor, Merchant gave us the perfect closing talk by outlining ten rules that took him ten years to learn.
1 Be Open, but Create Guardrails.
Merchant opens his talk by remind us that being open to new experiences is great, but being too open can actually limit your experiences and stop you from having a concrete world view. This is why Merchant implores us to create “guardrails” in order to outline our personal beliefs and keep us on track. In the immortal words of Tim Minchin “if you open your mind too much, your brain will fall out.
2 Don’t Just Travel, Meet People.
Merchant continues by citing a common opinion that travel is important and seeing different parts of the world broadens your horizons and expands creativity. However, Merchant reminds us that just seeing a country is not enough, you also have to interact with the people within that country to get an understanding of what there culture is and why. This understanding is what really changes your worldview, not just a delicious meal or a great Instagram picture.
3 Find Mentors and Reunite with Teachers.
Like many of the wonderful people we met on this journey, Merchant attributes his success to finding the right mentors at the right time. He also reminds us that our teachers are our first resource. “Reuniting with teachers can give you a hindsight and clarity that you will often not find on your own;” he says.
4 Get as close to the Sun as possible.
Citing the famous story of Icarus, Merchant reminds us not just to “reach for the stars” but also to watch how close we get to the sun.
5 Experiment early and often.
How do we get close to the sun? By experimenting as much as we can. Merchant reminds us that finding our groove takes time and experimentation.
6 Don’t Get Comfortable. When you do, shake things up.
To drive this point home, Merchant tells us an anecdote about his previous job as a programmer at a startup called 4C, where his best friend currently works. Making the leap from 4C to Facebook wasn’t exactly a comfortable one, but Merchant asserts that he knew it was right because “I felt too at home at 4C.”
7 Produce on your own.
Hearkening back to a conversation we had with Evan Shultz at Droega 5, many professionals have reminded us to create our own projects on our own time. Once again, Merchant reminds us “there is no one to say ‘no’ or to shut down your idea. You are free to make what ever you wish. Use this opportunity wisely.”
8 Prioritize experiences/ Memories over money
Bringing us back to his advice on traveling, Merchant tells us that many people our age feel we don’t have the money or time to see the world. Merchant urges us to have a different perspective. “You say you don’t have the money but there are so many amazing countries where the dollar is strong enough for you to travel quite comfortably. Many of you also think you don’t have the time, but now, when you are unmarried and have no real responsibilities, now, when your world view can still be shook to its core by an unbelievable experience, now is the time to travel.”
9 Don’t apologize for being you.
Everyone has issues. Everyone makes mistakes. The most important thing to remember is to learn from your mistakes and not become them.
10 Intern and figure out your criteria.
“You may feel like you constantly have to prove yourself to whatever job or office you are interning in, but remember they should be proving themselves to you as well. Good work today takes an insane amount of commitment, and that commitment is going to be wasted in a place you don’t enjoy working in.”
Caden Bohn