High Agency vs Low Agency

What’s up What’s up!

I have been thinking of reviving this newsletter for a while. This will be my first try. I will share company updates and general thoughts about us, our values, and crazy bets.

Have you ever heard of "high agency"?

It's a concept that's been buzzing in my mind. Trust me, once you see it, you can't unsee it. This might be the most crucial personality trait you can nurture. I learned from joining founder forums, meeting investors, and surrounding myself with people who decide to live their lives on their terms.

What's High Agency?

Picture this: Someone tells you something's impossible. Is that the end of the story for you, or does it kick off a brainstorming session in your head? That's the essence of high agency!

It's about looking at the bouncer who won't let you into the club and thinking, "Challenge accepted." Or hearing that you can't start a business with bad credit and zero experience and responding with, "Watch me."

High Agency vs. Low Agency

High Agency People: They see the stories others tell them about what's possible as just that – stories. And guess what? They're the authors of their own tales. These people are reality-benders, always finding a way or making one.

Low Agency People: They're the ones who take the story at face value, never questioning it. Passive to the core, they're happy to let others call the shots.

Spotting High Agency in the Wild

You'll see this trait popping up everywhere once you know what to look for:

1. Paul Graham's Take: He sums up great startup founders in two words – "relentlessly resourceful." That's high agency in a nutshell — https://paulgraham.com/relres.html.

2. Keith Rabois' "Barrels vs. Ammunition": Want to know who's got that high agency spark? Look for the person who gets things done against all odds. Like that intern who managed to get smoothies delivered to late-working developers on LinkedIn — https://www.conordewey.com/blog/barrels-and-ammunition/.

3. Jeff Bezos' Prison Break Test: Here's a fun one – who would you call if you were stuck in a third-world prison and needed busting out? Your answer might reveal your high agency connections.

High Agency Hall of Fame

1. Steve Jobs: He knew that everything around us was made by people no smarter than us. That's the high-agency mindset right there.

2. Arnold Schwarzenegger: From bodybuilder to movie star to governor – talk about bending reality to your will!

3. Airbnb Founders: When they needed funding, they didn't just wait for investors. They sold cereal. Yes, cereal. And made $40,000 doing it.

Cultivating Your High Agency Mindset

1. Try Peter Thiel's question: "How can you achieve your 10-year goal in 6 months?"

2. Practice "Orthogonal Thinking": Look at problems from completely different angles. The crazier, the better!

High Agency in Action: The Shed Restaurant

A journalist made his garden shed the top-rated restaurant in London on TripAdvisor. Now that's thinking outside the box (or shed)!

The Ultimate High Agency Story

Let's end with a powerful example. Alfréd Wetzler escaped from Auschwitz, carrying crucial information that reportedly saved 120,000 Hungarian Jews. If that's not high agency, I don't know what is.

High agency isn't about ignoring reality. It's about seeing its flexibility and having the audacity to reshape it. So, next time someone tells you "impossible," let that be your cue to start plotting!

Peace out ✌️