Brief Summary
Palmer Luckey discusses reputation management, communication strategies for founders, and the importance of taking a stance. He shares anecdotes about his experiences with Oculus and Anduril, highlighting the need to build a strong team, cultivate a following, and not shy away from controversy. Luckey also touches on the challenges of maintaining a positive reputation, choosing when to fight back against criticism, and leveraging personal advantages.
- Reputation is critical for founders.
- Taking a stance and affecting change is more valuable than being neutral.
- Building a strong team and cultivating a following are essential for success.
Introduction
The conversation begins with light-hearted banter about the video quality, before transitioning to the main topic: a discussion about a talk Palmer gave that "broke the internet". The talk involved calling out Jason Calacanis, and the discussion aims to explore the reasons behind this decision and the events leading up to it.
The Backstory with Jason Calacanis
Palmer explains that Jason Calacanis aggressively criticised him for donating to a pro-Trump group that ran an anti-Hillary Clinton billboard. Calacanis advocated for Palmer to be fired from his own company, behaviour Palmer considered anti-founder. Despite this, Palmer initially took the high ground. He eventually decided to respond due to his belief that the world is better when everyone is willing to stand up for themselves and that there should be consequences for those who lie about others and celebrate their firings.
The All-In Summit Incident
Palmer recounts being invited to the All-In Summit by Jason Calacanis after years of no contact. Initially hesitant, Palmer planned to use the opportunity to promote his mission about the importance of addressing critical issues proactively. However, Jason Calacanis twice failed to attend scheduled prep calls without explanation. Palmer viewed this as disrespectful and decided to confront him publicly at the summit.
The Importance of Reputation
Palmer argues that ignoring attacks is bad advice, as reputation is crucial for success in business. He believes it's important to correct the record and deter future attacks. He also felt he was standing up for others who don't have the platform to defend themselves against bullies like Jason. Palmer notes that many founders who had been targeted by Jason reached out to thank him for what he did.
Team Coordination and Unconventional Approaches
Palmer discusses how he informs his team about his plans but often doesn't need their help due to his unique approach. He shares a story from his Oculus days when he decided to personally deliver the first Oculus Rift to a customer in Alaska. Despite initial skepticism from some team members, the event was a success and resonated with the community. He emphasises the importance of having a team that supports unconventional ideas.
Outsider in DC
Palmer describes his unconventional style when working in Washington, D.C., including flying coach and packing his suit in his cargo pockets. He explains that he stayed at the Trump Hotel because they had a good steamer. He notes that in government, unlike with consumers, there are fewer key decision-makers. He says that Anduril was able to gain traction by building products instead of PowerPoints and finding champions within the Department of Defence who advocated for their technology.
Building Credibility and Trust
Palmer explains that building credibility in the defence sector is a gradual process. He says that you have to start with small projects and gradually build up to larger ones. He recounts how Anduril went from building small quadcopters to developing AI fighter jets. He also mentions how some competitors are now acknowledging Anduril's capabilities, which inadvertently promotes the company.
The Role of FU Money and Reputation
Palmer acknowledges that having "FU money" and a strong reputation were significant advantages when starting Anduril. He also admits to strong-arming some Oculus investors into reinvesting in his new company by threatening to publicly call them out if they didn't. He stresses that different founders have different levers available to them and should use them to their advantage.
Building a Cult Following
Palmer advises founders to cultivate a following, but emphasises the importance of being known among decision-makers and allies. He shares his experience building a community around his work on game console modifications and later with Oculus. He also highlights the importance of fulfilling promises to your community and maintaining trust.
Reputation Recovery and Fighting Back
Palmer discusses the challenges of maintaining a positive reputation and fighting back against lies and smears. He explains that he cannot afford to ignore false accusations, as they can persist and affect people's perceptions. He also notes the shifting narratives surrounding him, from being accused of anti-Semitism to being criticised for being too pro-Israel.
Choosing Your Battles
Palmer outlines three categories of people he chooses to engage with: those engaged in sustained smear campaigns, those gaining traction with false information, and those who "say the quiet part out loud." He believes it's important to address these individuals to correct the record and prevent misinformation from spreading.
Recruiting and Building a Strong Team
Palmer describes his approach to recruiting, which focuses on offering people the opportunity to work on something that matters and make a lasting impact. He contrasts this with the often mercenary-minded culture of Silicon Valley. He also emphasises the importance of building a diverse team with people from different backgrounds and ideologies.
Repelling the Wrong People
Palmer explains how Anduril actively repels the wrong people by highlighting the company's demanding work environment and commitment to field work. He notes that mercenaries are typically not looking for challenging and difficult work. He also cautions against modelling strategies that work for celebrities or those in very different positions.
Leveraging Personal Advantages
Palmer and Lulu discuss the idea of leveraging personal advantages, such as charm or youth, to succeed. Palmer shares that he does crossdressing cosplay. Lulu argues that everyone should use whatever advantages they have, as long as they don't cross ethical boundaries. She also points out that women can sometimes get away with things in communications that men can't.
The Whiz Kid Phenomenon
Palmer and Lulu discuss the phenomenon of the "whiz kid" and how it changes as one gets older. Palmer jokes that he is now a "whiz man". He notes that being a whiz kid can make it tough when you get older, as people may assume you've hit your peak.
Communicating Effectively as a Founder
Palmer identifies John Carmack as an underrecognised master communicator, citing his practice of publishing his technical development notes online. He also praises Carmack's willingness to weigh in on culture war issues.
Final Advice for Founders
Palmer's advice to founders is to recognise the value of their reputation and to say something meaningful. He encourages them to take a stance, affect change, and not be afraid to polarise people. He believes it's better to have strong opinions that some people love and others hate than to have lukewarm opinions that everyone agrees with.
