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Auren Hoffman
San Francisco, CA
lover of new ideas
Interests: entrepreneurship, growing talent, engineering, foreign policy, policy
Recent Activity
Every year I re-edit my list of favorite books of all time. This year's edition has a few subtractions from years past and a two additions I read in 2014 (one by Peter Thiel and one by Ben Horowitz). Enjoy:... Continue reading
Posted Dec 17, 2014 at Summation
How to be Absolutely Awesome. How to optimize for growth. How to manage your career path. And how to to have a long term career plan. Continue reading
Posted Oct 8, 2014 at Summation
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How to optimize for growth In this economy, most people are lucky to find one job. But a select few have multiple offers of interesting opportunities. If you are one of those people, picking the right opportunity can be difficult... Continue reading
Posted Feb 14, 2014 at Summation
Great conversion about changing law schools to two years (from three): https://www.facebook.com/aurenh/posts/10102842902597213?comment_id=22602327 Continue reading
Posted Feb 7, 2014 at Summation
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This was originally posted in MediaPost. CMOs are getting smarter and taking control Limited by the indefinite and imprecise results of traditional marketing, CMOs of the past could not realize meaningful metrics to measure success. But today’s technology has ripened,... Continue reading
Posted Jan 13, 2014 at Summation
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Sam Lessin just reminded me that he actually came up with this idea in 2010. See his TedTalk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XOf-GUMCXk (worth watching)
Toggle Commented Dec 20, 2013 on The coming decline in ownership at Summation
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We will soon own a lot less stuff The next few decades will witness a massive decline in ownership. Renting, not owning, will become the primary way people in the first-world consume. The last century saw an enormous increase in... Continue reading
Posted Dec 19, 2013 at Summation
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You can’t learn to be a big winner without losing first. We would all love to achieve success on the first go, but the reality is failure often lays the requisite groundwork for success. As I discussed in my earlier... Continue reading
Posted Sep 26, 2013 at Summation
Mike -- I love that article you wrote last year. Everyone should read it. You're right. We should all swim downstream.
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(Originally published as a guest on Nir Eyal's blog: http://www.nirandfar.com/2013/08/to-become-a-superstar-improve-your-strengths-not-your-faults.html) To really differentiate yourself in this winner-take-all world, you should be focusing on improving your strengths, not your weaknesses. Most people who set out to improve themselves focus on their... Continue reading
Posted Aug 19, 2013 at Summation
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Google may be the biggest search company on earth. But if you stop to think about it, Google actually owns a miniscule market share. You might argue (after googling it) that according to comScore, Google has 66.9% U.S. market share... Continue reading
Posted Jun 29, 2013 at Summation
We’re in midst of the last bubble. This bubble will likely go on for longer than previous bubbles and crash much harder. This current bubble is fueled by being the last chance for baby boomers to strike it rich. Here... Continue reading
Posted Apr 17, 2013 at Summation
The following are a list of books that I think about regularly. These are the books I have read since college that have most impacted me. I highly recommend all of them: Ultimate Auren Hoffman Reading List: Adventure Capitalist: The... Continue reading
Posted Mar 20, 2013 at Summation
Yann -- I accept your conclusion. As someone who majored in engineering, I would love to encourage others to do that too
Toggle Commented Feb 22, 2013 on Cre-8-TVT will trump systems thinking at Summation
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Ali: I think learning to code is awesome -- and it is extremely creative and important. But if one if going to code, one should strive to be great at it (and be a software engineer). In the new world we are moving to, you need to be great or you will be outsourced.
Toggle Commented Feb 22, 2013 on Cre-8-TVT will trump systems thinking at Summation
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Bing: you know more about creativity than almost anyone. honored to have you as part of the conversation on my blog!
Toggle Commented Feb 20, 2013 on Cre-8-TVT will trump systems thinking at Summation
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Jeff: really appreciate your comment. I loved your book on neuroscience.
Toggle Commented Feb 20, 2013 on Cre-8-TVT will trump systems thinking at Summation
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The Right Brain Revolution Over the next 100 years, the importance of creativity will trump systems thinking due to the rapidly escalating power of computers. No, I’m not talking about an apocalyptic “Rise of the Machines,” but rather about the... Continue reading
Posted Feb 5, 2013 at Summation
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Prediction: Twenty years from now, by 2033, Abraham Lincoln will have over one million children. Starting in 2023, scientists will have mastered creating and manufacturing sperm from DNA. This will be a godsend for men unable to have kids and... Continue reading
Posted Jan 9, 2013 at Summation
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Try this offline experiment this holiday season: Walk into a Tiffany’s with a bag from JC Penney’s and see if anyone will talk to you. Next, go to JC Penney’s with a bag from Tiffany’s and watch the staff fawn... Continue reading
Posted Dec 18, 2012 at Summation
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Haircuts are interesting. Before last week, I'd never spent more than $22 for a haircut. When I got married, I went to my go-to local barber (then it was $12) and got a good cut because I didn't want to... Continue reading
Posted Dec 3, 2012 at Summation
thanks Kat! and I am so thrilled you have been reading Summation for years.
Toggle Commented Nov 24, 2012 on The “Pretty Girl” Paradox at Summation
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Tony: thank you so much for commenting -- I am honored that the CEO of Zappos takes the time to read and give thoughtful replies on one of e-commerce's busiest days of the year. When I look to build a culture and hire great people, i think of Tony and Zappos. Zappos is the gold standard.
Toggle Commented Nov 22, 2012 on The “Pretty Girl” Paradox at Summation
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Fred: thank you for your comments. I haven't thought about how this works in politics but I hope to be as eloquent as you in a future post.
Toggle Commented Nov 22, 2012 on The “Pretty Girl” Paradox at Summation
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A fast friend heuristic to determine who to marry, hire, or even invest in The “pretty girl” is the object of desire, rare and easy to spot. For our purposes, the “pretty girl” (gender neutral here) can be a potential... Continue reading
Posted Nov 19, 2012 at Summation
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