The Start-Up of You

Looking for opportunities really means looking for people, according to Hoffman and Casnocha. Citing historical examples from Benjamin Franklin to J. P. Morgan, Hoffman and Casnocha show how ideas materialize into achievements through groups of smart, forward‐thinking people banding together. Hoffman's experience at PayPal enabled him to join a “PayPal mafia” of former executives, which ultimately led to Hoffman starting the social media company LinkedIn. Networks of people provide a “uniquely rich source of opportunities,” the authors contend, because of the high‐quality members, shared interests and experience, the ability to learn from each other, and cooperating with each other while sharing ideas and information.