He Quit Amazon to Build Supersonic Jets—Insane Story!

Key Concepts:

• Think Different Campaign (Apple, 1997): A marketing campaign celebrating individuals who challenge the status quo and strive to change the world.
• Declaration of Big Things: The act of publicly stating ambitious goals as a necessary precursor to achieving them.
• Dark Matter of Entrepreneurs: The unseen group of entrepreneurs who attempted to build something but ultimately failed.
• Risk Tolerance: The willingness to accept the possibility of failure in pursuit of ambitious goals.

Mindset Shift from Corporate to Entrepreneurial Path

The speaker describes the pivotal mindset shift that led them to leave a corporate job at Amazon and pursue building a new airline. This transition was heavily influenced by Apple's 1997 "Think Different" ad campaign.

The Influence of the "Think Different" Campaign

The speaker was deeply inspired by the "Think Different" campaign, particularly the tagline: "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do." This message resonated with the speaker's desire to make a significant impact.

The Importance of Declaring Big Things

The speaker emphasizes the importance of publicly declaring ambitious goals. They argue that "people have to be willing to declare big things in order for the big things to actually happen." This declaration serves as a commitment and a driving force for action.

The Acceptance of Potential Failure

The speaker acknowledges the inherent risk of failure in entrepreneurship. They distinguish between two categories of people: those who try and succeed (whose names are known to history) and those who try and fail (the "dark matter of entrepreneurs," who are largely forgotten).

Choosing the "Dark Matter" Over Inaction

The speaker frames the decision to pursue entrepreneurship as a choice between potentially failing and being part of the "dark matter of entrepreneurs" versus not trying at all. They state, "I'd rather be in the dark matter of entrepreneurs than in the like didn't try matter whatever kind of matter." This demonstrates a willingness to accept the possibility of failure as a necessary part of pursuing ambitious goals.

Conclusion

The speaker's transition from a corporate job to building an airline was driven by a desire to make a significant impact, inspired by the "Think Different" campaign. They embraced the risk of failure, choosing to be part of the "dark matter of entrepreneurs" rather than remaining in a state of inaction. The key takeaway is the importance of declaring ambitious goals and accepting the possibility of failure as a necessary part of achieving them.