Bill Gurley on Success: Learning from MrBeast

Aspire to achieve success? Adopt MrBeast's approach, as Silicon Valley's venture capitalist Bill Gurley advises: View your peers as collaborators rather than adversaries.

Leverage the Power of Collaboration

Bill Gurley, notable for his pioneering investments in trailblazing companies like Uber, Zillow, and Grubhub, emphasized on 'The Tim Ferriss Show' the critical importance of not only mastering your field but also immersing yourself in its pulse, such as by relocating to key cities.

Despite the advantages of physical hubs, Gurley highlighted the value of virtual connections with colleagues and mentors, spotlighting Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast, as a striking example. MrBeast has amassed a staggering 459 million subscribers on YouTube.

Collaborate Instead of Compete

Gurley observed a pervasive tendency for individuals to see their peers as competitors to outpace. However, he believes this cutthroat mindset is counterproductive given the immense opportunities for shared success.

"There's an abundance to gain from advancing together," Gurley remarked, noting the immense value in collaborative efforts over competitive ones.

MrBeast: A Case Study in Collective Growth

Donaldson's early obsession with YouTube drove him to engage in prolonged Skype discussions with like-minded enthusiasts. These exchanges involved swapping insights on navigating and succeeding in the world of social media.

Gurley learned about this from both a podcast and direct conversations with Donaldson, asserting that such peer connections are fundamental to success—a concept detailed in Gurley's forthcoming book, 'Runnin' Down a Dream.'

The Long Game: MrBeast's Dedication

As shared in a 2022 episode of 'The Joe Rogan Experience,' after completing high school, Donaldson immersed himself in daily Skype sessions with a small group of fellow YouTubers, at times from dawn until late evening.

For a thousand consecutive days, Donaldson and his peers dissected every component of creating engaging content—be it video quality, thumbnails, timing, or viral potential.

Their concerted efforts paid off handsomely; by the time their collaboration concluded, each YouTuber in the group boasted millions of followers—a testament to the power of shared learning and persistence.