Advice for my younger self

if this talk was about Qualcomm
only place that has kept my attention 9+ years.
ability to change the world, >1M activations a day.
amount of talent here is intimidating.
competitive pay.
philanthropic.
ethical.
coolest CEO ever (I’ll tell you over a beer).
America’s finest city.

I was asked by HR to share with
incoming intern class what I would
tell my former self 20 years ago
as I started my journey into the working
world.

views expressed are my own.
tickets for this talk were free,
you get what you pay for.
exit doors are behind you,
one on either side :-)

as graduation approaches,
you will start looking for your first job.

you may not realize it,
but you are actually starting a hopefully
wonderful journey.

it is a long journey.
40 x 2000 = 80000 hours
decisions you make the first 10000
will impact the next 10000
and so on…

getting lost can be scary without a map.
there is no map.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myG8hq1Mk00

but there are compasses. five of them.

choose carefully.
many never pick.
many don’t realize they have one, (me).
don’t judge others by their choice.
be honest with yourself when picking.

don’t play it safe by picking the one your
parents chose.
my dad picked #3
my mom picked #4
my brother + I picked #5

1. I want to be rich.
(my wife jokes with me about picking this one :-)

skip college, start the race at $0 not -$150K
get a job, e.g. making $45K a year at Costco
save every penny
$10K down on fixer-upper in Palm Desert
$20K more makes it move-in ready
rent covers mortgage, even in downturn
rinse + repeat
buddy Mark has done it 15x
lives comfortably

research on 500K people reveals magic number for
“happiness” is $75,000/yr. assume $100K for CA.
after that, no substantial increase.
study showed mind gets bored with excess.
secret is to tinyurl.com/underindulge

2. I want to be a boss. higher the better.

join growing companies.
work your ass off.
focus on execution.
tallest blade of grass often gets cut.
focus on keeping your boss happy.
stay while company’s growth pushes
you up, leave when see it passing you.

3. single focus is providing for family.

admirable.
but remember, those who make half as
much also have kids who worship them.
junior college guarantees admission to UC.
pay their tuition so they can exert free will
when it’s time to pick their compass.

4. I want to be of service to others.

there is a 5th compass.
it has served me well.
it is the one I know best.

first, what is your definition of hell?

definition of hell?
when you die and meet the person
you could have become.
compass #5 guides you away from
this fate. how does it work?
@thefrankmir

Reality Check:
it’s not in any job description.
get excited + make things

Reality Check:
you add it.
if they don’t value your brilliance,
leave.
have faith.
don’t flinch.

I didn’t pick #5 after MS CS UCLA ‘94.
I planned on using my old one.

my compass then was same as yours now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doqS35FfcUE

but I realized landscape had changed:
school : I learn
work : I + shareholders make money
but that compass wasn’t working anymore.
I thought it was broken.
I thought I was broken.

I’m not saying don’t work hard,
I’m saying work hard at getting excited first.
I’m not saying don’t do your job,
I’m saying do your job but also build other
things you + company need.

I’m not saying it will be easy,
I’m saying it will be worth it.

5ers turn a job testing scanners to
running VFX shots.
what I learned by GE+MT:
img processing
customer service
3D animation
3D modeling
starting a club
creative eye
storytelling
shaders
tinyurl.com/babakfreel

when 5ers are asked to implement
algorithms, they help redesign them.
What I learned by GE+MT:
Bad pixel cluster correction
Digital signal processing
Head mounted displays
Low light photography
Panoramic stitching
Auto-white balance
Gesture recognition
Electromyography
Presentation skills
Power reduction
Computer vision
Image processing
Red eye removal
User experience
Noise reduction
Face detection
Grip detection
Touch screen
Auto-focus
Sensors
Security
Tablets
SAR
RT60
90 patents pending or granted

when their company asks for innovative ideas,
5ers build them an entire new process.
what I improved by GE+MT:
innovation management
conflict resolution
public speaking
lateral thinking
negotiation
fund raising
networking
leadership
branding
writing
grit
Qualcomm’s FLUX has helped employees tap into their creative
intelligence through regular, short, cozy, moderated brainstorming
sessions. teams on 4 continents have captured 70+ patents pending
systems, all during lunch breaks!

when 5ers see a wave, they grab a
surfboard.
Tried to create youTube-like site in ’99 (hint: bad idea!)
what I improved by GE+MT:
computer programming
public speaking
media relations
raising money
business plan
networking
web design
trademarks
marketing
branding
failure
sales
legal
grit

when 5ers can’t find the ball they
want for their son, they make it.
what I learned by GE+MT:
rapid prototyping
break-up clauses
3D printing
getting taken
partnerships
shark thank
distribution
networking
web design
trademarks
kickstarter
materials
marketing
branding
tooling
patents
legal
grit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bziBohA64LM

5ers take their work seriously, but not themselves.
http://qtube.qualcomm.com/video/babakf/flux-harlem-shake-video

if not excited at times, don’t worry.

inspiration exists,
but it must find you working. - Picasso

only after 40000 hours can I say #5 works:
go on more exhilarating journeys.
meet more interesting people.
do things that will surprise even you.
play anywhere since broad set of skills.
and when your turn comes, you won’t feel it
was all a whirlwind, you will say,
“I am ready to go, I am tired.”

Few parting thoughts.
.
Decide, die on your feet or live on your knees?
#1 measure of success? Grit.
#1 measure of happiness? Balance. Attitude.
Own, then celebrate your ”weaknesses”.
Don’t say things you will later regret.
“Follow your passion” is bullshit.
GPA doesn’t matter if you can’t tell a joke.
Their punishment is living with themselves.
Don’t mess up the big decisions.
Give back.

one last bit of advice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL45pVdsRvE

don’t ever forget which monkey you are.

Qualcomm Intern Class of 2014,
I wish you all a safe journey.
for those who set sail, guided by #5, the
one that will steer you away from meeting
the person you could have become,

when you get to Heaven,
may God hand you a mirror.
Babak Forutanpour
@babakf

Advice for my younger self

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