People Assessment Framework

Sam Parr and Shaan Puri share a cynical but pragmatic view on evaluating people, centered around the belief that people don't fundamentally change and can be categorized as either winners or losers based on their consistent behaviors and attitudes.

• Core Philosophy on People:

  • People don't change - the way someone is now is how they'll always be
  • Default assumption should be that people will get worse over time (decay theory)
  • It's "guilty until proven innocent" rather than the opposite

• Identifying Winners:

  • Look for consistent patterns of success
  • They may occasionally fail but will always keep trying
  • Show passion and curiosity even about past experiences
  • Example: "Like Steph Smith - you're just a winner... maybe sometimes you're gonna swing and miss but you're always gonna swing"

• Identifying Losers:

  • Can't speak passionately about their experiences
  • Don't follow through on commitments
  • Lack big dreams or strong work ethic
  • Show patterns of giving up when success isn't immediate

• Practical Application:

  • Interview technique: Ask about the "bottom 4th" of resume
  • Look for passion in discussing past experiences, even mundane ones
  • Judge based on how they tell stories about their experiences
  • Make quick assessments and stick to them

• Strategic Implications:

  • Actively avoid working with "losers"
  • Commit long-term to working with "winners"
  • Don't waste time trying to change people
  • Focus energy on attracting and connecting with winners

This framework suggests making early, definitive judgments about people and maintaining those assessments rather than hoping for change or improvement over time.