In a startling revelation, Jensen Huang, the co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA, expressed that if he had the chance to relive his life, he wouldn’t venture into starting a company. Despite steering NVIDIA to a status of one of the most valuable companies globally, Huang's reflection unveils the untold hardships tied to entrepreneurship, even when it leads to monumental success.
NVIDIA, under Huang’s leadership, has indeed soared to
astonishing heights. The company, famous for its cutting-edge computer
processors used in data centers, autonomous vehicles, and gaming, has seen a
significant stock rally this year, gaining around 190% in stock value, and
joining the elite trillion-dollar valuation club alongside behemoths like Apple
and Microsoft1. However, the road to this grandeur, as Huang
disclosed, was anything but smooth sailing.
The insight came during a candid interview on the Acquired
podcast, where Huang, at the age of 60, was asked what sort of company he would
consider starting if he could go back to being 30. His response was a resolute
“I wouldn’t do it”1. The rationale behind this unanticipated
statement is the grueling journey of building a company from scratch.
Reflecting on the initial phase of NVIDIA, which he co-founded in 1993, Huang
mentioned that the process turned out to be “a million times harder” than he or
any of his co-founders had anticipated. He elucidated that the enormous “pain
and suffering,” the vulnerability, the endless challenges, embarrassments, and
a myriad of things that could go wrong are factors that would deter anyone “in
their right mind” from initiating a company1.
This reflection by Huang sheds light on the brutal reality
of entrepreneurship, which often gets overshadowed by the glamour of success.
Despite the tumultuous journey marked with near bankruptcy in 1995 and various
other challenges over the years, Huang’s relentless perseverance has
undoubtedly paid off, but at a cost that he now retrospectively deems too high1.
Interestingly, Huang’s notion of the “superpower of an
entrepreneur” revolves around a blend of ignorance and an enduring spirit.
Entrepreneurs often dive into ventures thinking, “How hard can it be?” only to
discover the harsh truths along the way. Yet, it's this very naivety, coupled
with an unyielding resolve, that propels them through the arduous journey of
entrepreneurship, leading to innovations that propel our world forward1.
The stark honesty in Huang's reflection serves as both a
reality check and an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. It's a reminder
that while the path of entrepreneurship is laden with unforeseen challenges,
the potential to create, innovate, and make a significant impact is boundless
for those willing to endure.
It's not every day that a tech titan shares such raw insight
into the less glamorous side of entrepreneurship. Huang’s candidness provides a
rare glimpse into the personal toll it takes to build a company, especially one
as influential as NVIDIA, while also honoring the indefatigable spirit of
entrepreneurs who dare to ask, “How hard can it be?”
