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Snapchat CEO Gives New Employees 'Nearly Impossible' Tasks: Here's Why They're Set Up to "Fail Early"

Unknown business, employees, entrepreneurship, startups, startups and entrepreneurship

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 Occasionally, your initial day at a new job establishes the atmosphere for the remainder of your time there.


 This is why Snap co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel assigns an extremely challenging assignment to members of his design team when they start on their first day, as mentioned on Monday.
 podcast episode
 Of "The Diary of a CEO."


 "Once a week, we spend a few hours conducting design reviews," explained Spiegel, who is 34 years old and heads the company behind the social media application Snapchat. "On your inaugural day, you must make a presentation... Clearly, on your first day, without understanding what projects the firm is currently tackling... It seems nearly unattainable to generate a solid concept," he remarked.


 This approach might appear unjust, yet it paves the way for developing the creative and analytical abilities employees require to thrive within the organization, as stated by Spiegel. Additionally, this method assists individuals in swiftly overcoming their apprehension towards failing, thereby motivating them to embrace greater workplace risks.


 "He mentioned that his biggest concern became reality as we were all gathered, examining an idea that wasn’t particularly impressive. While some of these ideas can be quite decent, most often they fall short. However, this situation actually paves the way for creativity since failure has already occurred and you’ve moved past it.”

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 The workout aids individuals in developing self-assurance and psychological toughness, and also serves as a form of team-building for staff members, according to Spiegel.


 Conquering a fear of failure—or any other fear—can be consistently difficult. Strategies that prove effective might seem absurd, such as mimicking a humorous dialect when talking to the inner voice or simply embracing oneself, yet these methods tend to succeed.
 If they can "interrupt" the pattern within your mind.
 , phobia specialist Christopher Paul Jones informed DIWIDAMake It on July 1.


 Confronting your fears directly can also be effective.
 as stated by leadership consultant and former Navy SEAL officer Jocko Willink.


 "What you must understand is that much of your fear doesn’t reflect reality; it’s merely constructed in your mind,” Willink stated in February 2019. “To conquer this fear, you should confront it directly. Examine it closely. Take initiative.”

<h4>
 'We're all born creative'
</h4>

 Conquering the fear of failing on your initial day at work might seem intimidating, particularly when you have a room full of new coworkers watching. Regardless of whether you're immediately faced with a challenging scenario or not, you can ease your first-day nerves by doing some preparatory groundwork beforehand.


 As a newcomer, you can achieve significant and rapid influence by grasping your organization’s mission and discovering precisely how your position contributes to this vision, according to Lori Castillo Martinez, who serves as the executive vice president of talent, growth, and development at Salesforce.
 said in October 2024
 Therefore, discuss with the hiring manager their expectations and the company culture as part of your job interview. Also, converse with either a present or past worker for insights.
 on LinkedIn
 or provide your email address before your first day.


 When you find yourself needing to generate a fresh, innovative concept spontaneously, you’ll be better equipped to offer something significant. “It’s beneficial to experiment and stay curious, embracing the chance to define your role and determine the effect you aspire to have as a newcomer,” noted Castillo Martinez.


 Even if your concept ends up in the 99% category of not-so-great ideas, you will still acquire valuable experience, according to Spiegel.


 He stated, 'The most effective way to come up with a solid concept is by producing numerous ideas.' Thus, the team continuously develops a wide range of concepts, items, and functionalities... It’s our responsibility to identify which among these standouts truly shine.'


 
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 Ways to Begin a Secondary Business
 To acquire advice for beginning and tactics for achieving success from leading side hustle professionals, sign up now and apply the promo code EARLYBIRD to receive a 30% discount off $97 (+ taxes and fees) until April 1, 2025.


 Plus,
 subscribe to DIWIDAMake It's mailing list
 To acquire advice and strategies for achieving success at your job, managing finances, and navigating everyday life.

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Snapchat CEO Gives New Employees 'Nearly Impossible' Tasks: Here's Why They're Set Up to "Fail Early"

Unknown business, employees, entrepreneurship, startups, startups and entrepreneurship

Occasionally, your initial day at a new job establishes the atmosphere for the remainder of your time there. This is why Snap co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel assigns an extremely challenging assign…

Why Foreign Entrepreneurs Are Betting Big on Vietnam for Their Startups

Unknown business, entrepreneurship, startups, startups and entrepreneurship, vietnam

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1BugPl" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1BugPl.jpg"/>

 The British entrepreneur Graeme didn’t anticipate that his 2023 visit to Vietnam would present him with a business prospect compelling enough to make him decide to remain there.


 A former footballer who retired at 21 due to injury, he had initially planned to launch a retail business in Bali, Indonesia. But friends discouraged him, citing the market's competitiveness.


 While visiting Vietnam in 2023, he identified its promise as a perfect location both for residence and professional endeavors. Given its substantial populace of 100 million, with three-quarters below the age of 30, along with its extensive coastlines fostering commerce, the nation seemed poised for expansion.


 "The expenses for living and starting up are notably low," states the 37-year-old.


 He first opened a café and an Airbnb business. Then, by chance, he noticed a demand for post-injury sports rehabilitation, an industry largely untapped in Vietnam. Recalling his own recovery process, he saw an opportunity to introduce sports rehabilitation technology to the country.


 He partnered with Jordan, a friend with a degree in sports science, to launch a new venture. By mid-2024, they had imported equipment from the U.K. and U.S. and opened Recover, a sports rehabilitation center catering to amateur athletes, in HCMC. Vietnam’s significantly lower business registration and labor costs and operational expenses gave them a competitive advantage over markets like the U.K. and Australia, he says.

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 Graeme (far right) with staff members at the center in Thao Dien Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of Graeme
 
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 But he encountered cultural business challenges, particularly in staffing. He found that Vietnamese employees were often reserved when working with foreigners. Many arrived late for work, delaying the center’s opening, something unacceptable in the service industry. Tortuous banking procedures made payments and financial tracking challenging.


 A few months later he expanded his team, hiring Myanmarese staff and receiving legal guidance from his Vietnamese wife.


 "Without local connections, running a business here would be very difficult," he says. "Language barriers and different business cultures are major challenges."


 After six months Recover stabilized, and he began planning an expansion into Hong Kong.


 Graeme is one of many foreign entrepreneurs choosing Vietnam, especially HCMC, as their startup base. According to StartupBlink, a global startup ranking platform, as of 2024 HCMC had 182 foreign-owned startups, 52% of the country's total. Over three years the city jumped 68 places to 111th among the world’s top startup hubs.


 This growth is fueled by Vietnam’s improving business climate. The 2020 World Bank Doing Business report ranked Vietnam 70th out of 190 countries for business-friendliness. Key reforms like streamlining business registration and reducing processing time to under a month have further facilitated foreign investment.


 Vinnie Lauria, founder of venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures, which backs startups in Southeast Asia, says Vietnam’s startup ecosystem has flourished over the past decade. The country has
 attracted foreign entrepreneurs
 in edtech, fintech, healthtech, and digital transformation.


 Vietnam’s economic growth, stable education system and young, ambitious workforce make it an attractive business destination, he says. The country’s vibrant street life, motorbike culture, and diverse cuisine further boost its appeal, he says.


 "Unlike any other Southeast Asian country, Vietnam has a unique energy—both chaotic and orderly in its own way."


 American entrepreneur Aric Austin experienced this firsthand when he visited his brother in 2018. A former media startup executive in New York, the U.S., he later founded and sold two companies to Glam Media and Yahoo in Germany.


 "I wanted to
 take on a new challenge in Vietnam
 ," he says.

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 Aric Austin at a warehouse in Ho Chi Minh City, March 2025. Photo courtesy of Austin
 
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 The idea emerged when he struggled to find a storage facility while relocating from Berlin to HCMC. His landlord had no recommendations, and he was surprised by the absence of personal storage services in Vietnam in stark contrast to neighboring Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, where the industry was already well-established.


 "I knew Vietnamese consumers would eventually demand this service," he says.


 After a year of research he launched My Storage, a personal storage business, in 2019. But the business required a lot of effort to build consumer awareness. One of his early customers told him they were relieved to find his service, as they previously had to rent a hotel room just to store furniture during a home renovation.


 "This showed that demand existed, but most people were unaware of available solutions," Austin says. "Changing consumer perceptions could take five, 10 or even 15 years."


 He noticed a significant distinction between Western and Vietnamese consumers: in the West, customers actively look for services, whereas in Vietnam, companies need to approach them directly.
 invest heavily in marketing
 to raise awareness and create demand.


 When My Storage initially launched, it stood alone as the sole enterprise of its type within Vietnam. However, now multiple rivals—some even from abroad—have joined the fray. Despite this increased competition, he maintains an optimistic stance, arguing that these new entrants will boost public recognition and assist consumers in understanding the advantages offered by individual storage solutions.


 Lauria emphasizes that successful startup ecosystems thrive on diversity. A Kauffman Foundation study found that over 50% of Silicon Valley’s billion-dollar companies were founded by immigrants, underscoring their role in driving innovation and economic growth.


 However, Lauria recognizes that international entrepreneurs continue to encounter obstacles in Vietnam. Although business registration has become more streamlined, scaling up operations remains complicated, particularly when it comes to adhering to legal requirements, recruiting staff, and managing remotely.


 He encourages Vietnam to embrace a more welcoming stance towards foreign entrepreneurs and investors, using Singapore as an exemplary model—astartup haven that draws talents from around the world.
 Visa regulations ought to be made more straightforward as well.
 To make it easier for companies to register, he states.


 Tackling these challenges will pave the way for startups and local talent to make full contributions to business achievements.

Why Foreign Entrepreneurs Are Betting Big on Vietnam for Their Startups

Unknown business, entrepreneurship, startups, startups and entrepreneurship, vietnam

The British entrepreneur Graeme didn’t anticipate that his 2023 visit to Vietnam would present him with a business prospect compelling enough to make him decide to remain there. A former footballer…

The Top Question Every Seasoned Founder Asks in Job Interviews: 'It Reveals They’ve Done Their Homework'

Unknown business, entrepreneurship, jobs and careers, startups and entrepreneurship, women

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 Since co-founding
 Hello Alice
 A little over seven years ago, Elizabeth Gore launched a platform designed to assist entrepreneurs in obtaining funding and education. She mentions that during this time, she has had the opportunity to hire and interview countless individuals.


 The platform has assisted 1.5 million entrepreneurs and provided $52 million in grant funding, according to Gore, who previously served as an entrepreneur-in-residence for both the United Nations and Dell. For a considerable time, she has supported business owners across the U.S. and around the globe in developing their ventures and achieving prosperity.


 When it comes to hiring, Gore asks just one question:
 likes to ask
 "What do you believe we are missing or not handling correctly within our organization?" she asks.


 Here's why.

<h4>
 How do you plan to advance our company objectives?
</h4>

 For Gore, it's crucial to identify individuals who are focused on the broader vision of Hello Alice's future achievements.


 "What strategies will you use to advance our company objectives?" she asks, illustrating her perspective. "What fresh ideas do they propose?" Questioning what Hello Alice perceives as mistakes can help determine whether a candidate has considered proactive solutions and ways to propel the organization ahead.


 This method helps gauge their level of preparation and the quality of their work ethics. As she points out, "It will demonstrate that they have researched the company thoroughly," which indicates their genuine interest in securing the job.


 Ultimately, startups occasionally need to make swift changes to address the requirements of their emerging clientele. This query assists in demonstrating whether applicants can "think" flexibly.
 on their feet,
 " she says.

<h4>
 'The manner in which you convey your response is just as crucial as the content itself.'
</h4>

 For Gore, this query serves as a means to assess a candidate's capacity for respectfulness. She explains, "The manner in which you provide your response is just as crucial as the content of your answer."


 "It might seem straightforward to say, 'Well, you're bad at these five areas,' but that approach comes off as harsh and patronizing when offering useful feedback," she explains. Such an attitude could also create a negative atmosphere in the workplace.


 Rather than doing so, she seeks individuals who phrase their response along the lines of, “I’d suggest this emerging field,” according to her. These people refrain from speaking condescendingly while aiming to assist the firm enhance its performance.


 
 
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<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/video/AA1oNeua" data-reference="video"/>

The Top Question Every Seasoned Founder Asks in Job Interviews: 'It Reveals They’ve Done Their Homework'

Unknown business, entrepreneurship, jobs and careers, startups and entrepreneurship, women

Since co-founding Hello Alice A little over seven years ago, Elizabeth Gore launched a platform designed to assist entrepreneurs in obtaining funding and education. She mentions that during this t…