Wounds Drive Success

A framework exploring how entrepreneurs can turn psychological wounds and revenge motivations into successful businesses.

Core Concept: "Chips on shoulders equals chips in pockets"

• Deep psychological wounds or grudges can be powerful motivators for business success
• Uncurable "identity wounds" often drive people to achieve significant results
• Revenge and anger can be channeled into productive business ventures

Notable Examples of Revenge-Driven Success

• Travis Kalanick (Uber)

  • Got burned in first startup Red Swoosh
  • Used that experience to build Uber

• Naval Ravikant

  • Got kicked out of first company by VCs
  • Created Venture Hacks to help founders avoid VC pitfalls
  • Built AngelList to shift power from VCs to founders/angels

• Elon Musk

  • Felt attacked by Democrats and regulators
  • Turned antagonism into motivation for various ventures
  • Now using position to challenge bureaucracy

Investment Framework

• Sam Lessin's perspective: "Is this company a form of deep revenge?"
  • If yes, "cut the check"
  • Revenge businesses often perform exceptionally well

Key Insights

• Traditional advice to "let go of hate" may be counterproductive
• Negative emotions like revenge, rage, and shame can be powerful motivators
• These psychological drivers often lead to transformative businesses
• Investors should look for founders with deep motivating grudges
• Personal vendettas can translate into market-changing innovations

Investment Strategy

• Look for entrepreneurs with clear chips on their shoulders
• Don't try to "fix" or counsel away their grudges
• Instead, align yourself with their motivation
• Consider their psychological drive as a positive indicator
• Get close to these founders and support their mission