Sam Altman

Principles are our summary of their public statements.

• Long-term vesting alignment

  Hiring

  Consider back-weighted or longer vesting schedules paired with above-market grants to attract employees who truly believe in the company's long-term mission.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Employee Equity, 2014  (opens in a new tab)

• Beware of Unpredicted Optimization

  Risk

  Programs often achieve their goals in ways the creators did not predict, which can lead to dangerous side effects.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Machine intelligence, part 1, 2015  (opens in a new tab)

• Avoid Sloppy Thinking on Timelines

  Strategy

  Believing a major threat is far off without evidence is dangerous; progress can go vertical suddenly due to recursive self-improvement.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Machine intelligence, part 1, 2015  (opens in a new tab)

• Avoid setting arbitrary limits

  Mindset

  Experts often underestimate the speed and scope of technological progress by declaring certain feats impossible.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source Technology predictions, 2015  (opens in a new tab)

• Protect Controversial Discourse

  Mindset

  Progress requires the freedom to challenge current orthodoxies, as many ideas that are now accepted were once considered offensive or heretical.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source A Clarification, 2017  (opens in a new tab)

• Anticipate Evolving Ethics

  Learning

  Recognize that future generations will likely view current common practices as unethical. Stay open to ideas that seem radical today but may become the moral standard later.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source A Clarification, 2017  (opens in a new tab)

• Lower Barriers to Entry

  Strategy

  Reducing regulatory uncertainty and housing costs allows more people to take risks and start new ventures.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Policy for Growth and Innovation, 2015  (opens in a new tab)

• Focus on sustainable growth

  Mindset

  While growth can mask internal problems, sustainable economic growth is a moral good that improves lives and fosters a shared spirit of success.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Sam Altman on Loving Community, Hating Coworking, and the Hunt for Talent (Ep. 61 - Live in SF), 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Compete With Your Past Self

  Mindset

  Avoid the trap of social comparison by focusing on self-satisfaction and personal impact. True high performance comes from trying to be the best possible version of oneself rather than beating others.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Sam Altman on Loving Community, Hating Coworking, and the Hunt for Talent (Ep. 61 - Live in SF), 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Master Human Psychology

  Leadership

  Operational excellence and vision are necessary, but a deep understanding of human psychology is what separates the best leaders. Understanding what people truly care about versus what they say allows for better system building.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Sam Altman on Loving Community, Hating Coworking, and the Hunt for Talent (Ep. 61 - Live in SF), 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Fund Resourcefulness Over Luck

  Capital allocation

  He prefers to back individuals who are resourceful and driven to do the right thing without relying on innate advantages or luck.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Sam Altman on Loving Community, Hating Coworking, and the Hunt for Talent (Ep. 61 - Live in SF), 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Beware of Buzzword Combinations

  Decisions

  Be skeptical of ideas that rely on combining multiple trendy buzzwords; a strong business should focus on one core thing that works exceptionally well.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Sam Altman on Loving Community, Hating Coworking, and the Hunt for Talent (Ep. 61 - Live in SF), 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Understand the Power of Imagery

  Marketing

  Public perception is often driven more by powerful imagery than by objective facts or safety statistics.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Sam Altman on Loving Community, Hating Coworking, and the Hunt for Talent (Ep. 61 - Live in SF), 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Avoid mimetic career paths

  Career

  Taking too much inspiration from someone else's life path is dangerous. Success comes from pursuing what has not been done yet.

  Source Sam Altman on Loving Community, Hating Coworking, and the Hunt for Talent (Ep. 61 - Live in SF), 2018  (opens in a new tab)

• Optimize for Equity

  Wealth

  Focus on owning a significant portion of a high-growth company rather than worrying about the specific title of founder.

  Source Sam Altman on Loving Community, Hating Coworking, and the Hunt for Talent (Ep. 61 - Live in SF), 2018  (opens in a new tab)