Why Shazam was too risky — Dhiraj Mukherjee
Dhiraj Mukherjee founded Shazam, the app used by billions and sold to Apple.
We talk with Dhiraj about:
How “losers” warned him Shazam was too risky — and realizing they were right
How his cultural background focused him on processes rather than outcomes
Why ruthlessness and focusing on money is short-sighted
Listen to the interview
What we loved
Why Shazam was too risky
Lots of people told us the things which can't be done. And we thought those people were just negative, narrow minded, losers — basically. But as I got older, I realized that they were absolutely right.
This is why big successes are hard: you need to be non-consensus and right. It’s also why batting for a big success requires a lot of grit — and no certainty of success.
The problem is that the consensus is generally right. There has to be some truth or insight for most people to accept it.
This creates a paradox: big successes require crazy bets but most crazy bets are crazy.
Dive Deeper
Howard Marks, one of the best living investors, on why you need to be both non-consensus and right (memo)
Is it easier to make money via venture startups or bootstrapped companies? (Twitter)
How does Cindy Gallop not give a fuck? She shares gems on having grit (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, article)
Should you work at a large company or a startup (article)?
People mentioned
Paul Paulson, ex-CEO of Unilever (profiles: New York Times, The Economist)
Tom Lowe, ex-CEO of Reuters
Josh Silverman, ex-CEO of Skype (profile from Greylock)
Stephen Covey, author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Wikipedia)