Episode

#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
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1:14:09
Published: Sat May 28 2016
Description

Marc Andreessen (@pmarca) is a legendary figure in Silicon Valley -- and worldwide. Even in the epicenter of tech, it's hard to find a more fascinating icon. Marc co-created the highly influential Mosaic Internet browser, the first widely used graphical web browser. He also co-founded Netscape, which later sold to AOL for $4.2 billion. Then he co-founded Loudcloud, which sold as Opsware to Hewlett Packard for $1.6 billion. He's considered one of the founding fathers of the modern Internet, right alongside pioneers like Tim Berners-Lee, who launched the Uniform Resource Locator (URL), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and early HTML standards. This all makes him one of the few humans ever to create software categories used by more than a billion people. He's also one of the few who's established multiple billion-dollar companies. Marc is now co-founder and general partner of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, where he's quickly become one of the most influential and dominant tech investors in the world. In this interview, we dig into some fun things Marc has not discussed in many places, including: His epic debate vs. Peter Thiel Rules for investing The future of bitcoin Artificial intelligence Favorite books, documentaries, and movies And much, much more We had an extremely detailed and rich conversation, and I hope you enjoy it. Please do say hi to Marc -- he's very active on Twitter at @pmarca. Enjoy! Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast. This podcast is brought to you by Audible. I have used Audible for years and I love audio books. I have two to recommend: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Vagabonding by Rolf Potts All you need to do to get your free 30-day Audible trial is go to Audible.com/Tim. Choose one of the above books, or choose between more than 180,000 audio programs. That could be a book, a newspaper, a magazine, or even a class. It's that easy. Go to Audible.com/Tim and get started today. Enjoy This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world's largest marketplace of graphic designers. I have used them for years to create some amazing designs. When your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99Designs. I used them to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body, and I've also had them help with display advertising and illustrations. If you want a more personalized approach, I recommend their 1-on-1 service. You get original designs from designers around the world. The best part? You provide your feedback, and then you end up with a product that you're happy with or your money back. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run.***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Visit tim.blog/sponsor and fill out the form.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chapters
In this episode, Tim Ferriss talks about his email newsletter called "Five Bullet Friday," where he sends out five bullet points of the coolest things he has found every week.
00:00 - 01:18 (01:18)
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Tim Ferriss
Summary

In this episode, Tim Ferriss talks about his email newsletter called "Five Bullet Friday," where he sends out five bullet points of the coolest things he has found every week. He also shares how he meets guests for his podcast.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
In this episode of the Tim Ferriss Show, Mark Andreesen discusses investing, AI, drones, Bitcoin, and the future of technology.
01:18 - 07:46 (06:27)
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Technology
Summary

In this episode of the Tim Ferriss Show, Mark Andreesen discusses investing, AI, drones, Bitcoin, and the future of technology. He also shares his favorite books, documentaries, and morning rituals while providing insight into how he handles FOMO and the importance of nutrient-dense meals.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The world's best hedge fund managers love changing their mind and being proven wrong, unlike many who lock themselves into a point of view.
07:47 - 11:20 (03:33)
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Successful Mindset
Summary

The world's best hedge fund managers love changing their mind and being proven wrong, unlike many who lock themselves into a point of view. Startup advice often conflicts with "fail fast" and never acknowledging it.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
In venture capital, it is important to consider the counterfactual, or the alternative decisions that could have been made, in order to preserve the non-consensus views that lead to successful investments in unique and innovative companies.
11:20 - 16:38 (05:18)
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Venture Capital
Summary

In venture capital, it is important to consider the counterfactual, or the alternative decisions that could have been made, in order to preserve the non-consensus views that lead to successful investments in unique and innovative companies.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The ability to resolve conflicts and fight well is essential in any kind of relationship.
16:38 - 19:48 (03:09)
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Business Partnership
Summary

The ability to resolve conflicts and fight well is essential in any kind of relationship. In this podcast, two business partners discuss their approach to conflict resolution and decision making in their company.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Understanding what it was like to be a historical figure before they became known is important for gaining insight into their actions and decisions.
19:49 - 26:25 (06:35)
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Biographies
Summary

Understanding what it was like to be a historical figure before they became known is important for gaining insight into their actions and decisions. The best biographers excel by getting into the heads of their subjects before they became famous.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz Marc Andreessen talks about his experience realizing the potential of the internet when he first arrived at Silicon Valley and how every big technological breakthrough starts as a fringe activity before becoming mainstream.
26:25 - 31:17 (04:52)
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Technology
Summary

The co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz Marc Andreessen talks about his experience realizing the potential of the internet when he first arrived at Silicon Valley and how every big technological breakthrough starts as a fringe activity before becoming mainstream.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The emergence of AI and deep learning is making robotics, food hacking, and other scientific endeavors more accessible for hobbyists.
31:17 - 35:18 (04:00)
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Emerging Technologies
Summary

The emergence of AI and deep learning is making robotics, food hacking, and other scientific endeavors more accessible for hobbyists. Thanks to tools like Google's tensor flow, non-experts can create projects based on these emerging technologies.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Change has led to an increase in human welfare and job opportunities, creating new industries, sciences, arts, and businesses.
35:18 - 39:52 (04:34)
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Job creation
Summary

Change has led to an increase in human welfare and job opportunities, creating new industries, sciences, arts, and businesses. Despite the destruction of 5 million jobs per quarter, the American economy is still creating a net of around 3.5 million jobs per year.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
This podcast discusses how FOMO (fear of missing out) can often lead to bad investment decisions and how to eliminate it as a variable altogether.
39:53 - 43:39 (03:45)
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Investment
Summary

This podcast discusses how FOMO (fear of missing out) can often lead to bad investment decisions and how to eliminate it as a variable altogether.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Value investors like Warren Buffett invest in companies for the long term, and Heinz ketchup is a prime example due to its longevity and consumer loyalty in the market.
43:39 - 47:28 (03:48)
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Investing
Summary

Value investors like Warren Buffett invest in companies for the long term, and Heinz ketchup is a prime example due to its longevity and consumer loyalty in the market. Investing in companies with a track record of success and a loyal customer base is a strategic approach to value investing.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Airware and Skydio are two drone companies that offer significant advancements in autonomous drones used for industries and hobbyist-level activities, respectively.
47:28 - 52:20 (04:52)
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Drones
Summary

Airware and Skydio are two drone companies that offer significant advancements in autonomous drones used for industries and hobbyist-level activities, respectively.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Despite all the criticism, Bitcoin continues to work just the same as it did before, and it is becoming more commonplace.
52:21 - 57:03 (04:42)
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Bitcoin
Summary

Despite all the criticism, Bitcoin continues to work just the same as it did before, and it is becoming more commonplace. However, many people are still unable to dispassionately assess its mechanics without getting preemptively upset.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast features a conversation with a former geography major who became a real estate broker in the 1950s and played a key role in the development of the Silicon Valley.
57:04 - 1:03:39 (06:35)
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Real Estate
Summary

The podcast features a conversation with a former geography major who became a real estate broker in the 1950s and played a key role in the development of the Silicon Valley.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The importance of pricing strategies for companies, and the need to increase prices over time to ensure that the product is valued.
1:03:39 - 1:07:04 (03:24)
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pricing strategies
Summary

The importance of pricing strategies for companies, and the need to increase prices over time to ensure that the product is valued.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The founders of Silicon Valley companies are becoming more assertive in entering new industries and seeking out "moonshots" while encouraging others in the industry to do the same, according to Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn.
1:07:04 - 1:11:23 (04:19)
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Silicon Valley
Summary

The founders of Silicon Valley companies are becoming more assertive in entering new industries and seeking out "moonshots" while encouraging others in the industry to do the same, according to Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Mark Andreessen shares his thoughts on the core of what tech does and why we shouldn't write off the things that built the Valley, while also promoting 16z's website and being open for business.
1:11:23 - 1:14:03 (02:39)
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Technology
Summary

Mark Andreessen shares his thoughts on the core of what tech does and why we shouldn't write off the things that built the Valley, while also promoting 16z's website and being open for business.

Episode
#163: Marc Andreessen -- Lessons, Predictions, and Recommendations from an Icon
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show