About this item
Highlights
- A practical playbook to maximize luck in life and career Venture capitalists manage to raise and invest trillions of dollars despite being wrong most of time through asymmetric bets - where a few big wins outsize losses by factors of 1,000x.
- About the Author: DANIEL SHIN UN KANG is a start-up founder who raised millions from investors including Y-Combinator.
- 240 Pages
- Health + Wellness, Mental Health
Description
About the Book
"The Super Upside Factor: Asymmetric Principles That'll 10x Your Life is a precise guide applying the tested asymmetric principles used in venture capital and startups to individual careers. Venture capitalists manage to raise, invest, and gain hundreds of billions of dollars despite being wrong the vast majority of the time. The magnitude of the handful of wins are outrageously disproportionate to create success. Likewise, individuals don't need a 90% success rate; but crush a few right things with exponential upsides with floored downsides for an extraordinary level of success. The book draws on Daniel Kang's firsthand experience applying and refining application of these principles in a variety of contexts as a startup founder backed by Y-Combinator venture capitalist at Softbank Vision Fund; pilot sponsored by the government; and now an author published with Wiley"--Book Synopsis
A practical playbook to maximize luck in life and career
Venture capitalists manage to raise and invest trillions of dollars despite being wrong most of time through asymmetric bets - where a few big wins outsize losses by factors of 1,000x.
In The Super Upside Factor, Daniel Kang draws on his experience as a venture capitalist at Softbank Vision Fund and a Y Combinator-backed founder to adapt asymmetric principles for personal and professional life. He offers a clear framework for maximizing luck and generating outsized returns--what he calls Super Upsides. Through vivid, real-life experiments, Kang demonstrates how he put these principles into practice--from securing a book deal writing just 15 minutes a day; to recovering from a spiralling plane as a pilot; to raising millions by betting on pivotal career shift.
This book draws upon the author's firsthand experience going from no money, network, or looks to a highly successful career in entrepreneurship and venture capitalism. In this book, readers will find discussion on:
- Core concepts like the multiplier effect and black swans
- Probabilities, biases, and luck, and how to make them work for you, not against you
- Tools and first steps to create a "life portfolio" of uncapped upsides and unlimited opportunity
Backed by decision science research and personal experimentations, the book strikes a balance between theory and practical advice, guiding readers to identify and optimize skewed life bets. Beyond the tactical elements, Kang explores the human side of applying these principles, including discussions on mental health, emotional struggles, and even tactically quitting.
The Super Upside Factor will inspire readers--even the most risk averse--to realize they are only a few Super Upsides away from extraordinary success and provide precise asymmetric principles needed to stack the odds in their favor.
From the Back Cover
Praise for THE SUPER UPSIDE FACTOR
"The Super Upside Factor unlocks the power of decision science and human systems, revealing practical strategies to leverage luck, embrace asymmetric opportunities, and achieve extraordinary returns in both life and career."
--NIR EYAL, Author of Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
"Daniel applies basic statistical principles and lessons learnt from his venture capital experience to deliver a compelling blueprint for achieving outsized success in an unpredictable world."
--ALOK SAMA, Former President and CFO of SoftBank Group International and Author of The Money Trap
"I often tell my mentees or students, 'Why not try?' when they seek advice, encouraging them to consider that the upside could be significantly greater, while the downside might not be as risky as they imagine. Daniel has eloquently explained this approach in his book, which I recommend for students and young professionals."
--JIHOON RIM, Professor at NYU Stern and former CEO and Board Director of Kakao Corp
"An intriguing and well-written case for applying risk-taking frameworks from venture investing to life decisions. If you find yourself hobbled by risk aversion, this book can provoke a thoughtful re-examination of the options."
--KARTHIK RAMANNA, Oxford Professor and Author of The Age of Outrage: How to Lead in a Polarized World
"In The Super Upside Factor, Daniel masterfully shows how to generate outsized rewards while protecting the downside. His principles of asymmetry are a must-read for anyone seeking to 10x their career and life without unnecessary risk."
--BRIAN LIU, Founder and former CEO and Chairman of LegalZoom
About the Author
DANIEL SHIN UN KANG is a start-up founder who raised millions from investors including Y-Combinator. Previously, he was on the other side of the table as a venture capitalist at SoftBank Vision Fund, investing in tech companies and formally advising on boards. He studied finance at McGill University and policy at the University of Oxford.