Jensen Huang’s Full Conversation at Stanford, 55 Minutes Long.

https://youtu.be/cEg8cOx7UZk

Around the 35-minute mark, Jensen Huang was asked about his experience in increasing the chances of success. He emphasized the importance of resilience. According to him, Stanford students naturally set high expectations for themselves, but often, those with high expectations tend to have lower resilience.

Huang believes that resilience is a character trait rather than a measure of intelligence. It’s something that can only be forged through pain and suffering.

He could only wish these students ample doses of pain and suffering.

However, I don’t fully agree with his viewpoint, or at least, I don’t think resilience through suffering is the most important factor. Take Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, for example. They weren’t driven by pain; Jobs was fueled by a quasi-religious passion, and Wozniak by a deep obsession with technology.

The Power of Systems Over Individual Traits

The advantages of a well-structured system can often outweigh individual qualities. For instance, property rights systems promote effective collaboration. It’s the specific legal and cultural frameworks that enable various human resources to come together, forming connections aimed at maximizing collective benefits.

Under such well-defined social rules, it’s often the synergy of people working together that drives significant progress. The development of key historical events doesn’t hinge on individual traits and usually has little to do with any single person.

Diversity in Top Professionals

In any industry, top professionals come with a variety of personalities. Some have the resilience to pursue goals over the long term, others possess the insight to recognize opportunities, and still others have the conviction to follow paths that might seem unconventional.

It is the structures, in which individuals are embedded, need to keep up with the capabilities and speed demanded by the times. As individuals, we can fit into these structures in numerous ways. Sometimes, the reasons we become part of these structures are purely coincidental—through contracts, agreements, emotional bonds, or shared connections.

Understanding Structures and Self-Alignment

When it comes to what we can control, it’s crucial to understand how we relate to these structures. What are your unique characteristics? What qualities should the structure you’re aiming for have? Where can you find such structures? How do you complement the structure, and how can you help it emerge?

These insights typically come from learning, experience, and intentional exploration. They tap into two very valuable, yet often unnamed, fields of knowledge: one is understanding comprehensive social systems, and the other is recognizing how to participate effectively in social structures.

Overall, the direction of a society is shaped not by a few individuals, but by the participation of many people.

You can lead the way early on, join in halfway, or integrate later. You might be an organizer at the forefront, or a participant behind the scenes, away from the spotlight.

In the development of this trend and within the structure of participants, it’s important to learn how to judge the direction of the trend and find the right position for yourself.

Resilience is Valuable, But Not the Only Key

Resilience is undoubtedly a wonderful quality, but it’s not the only one needed within a collective structure.

Moreover, resilience doesn’t necessarily have to stem from suffering. Rational individuals can develop resilience through reasoning and informed decision-making, without the need to endure hardship.

In many cases, the best reasonable action is simply to choose endurance and persistence, mainly depending on the availability of choices.

For someone like Huang, who immigrated at nine and experienced the hardships of adjusting to a new life during his formative years, it’s natural to believe that hardship is an essential part of success. This belief aligns with the classic Eastern proverb, “No pain, no gain.”

This mindset indeed contributed to building one of the most valuable companies in the U.S., and it’s not a bad approach for personal growth. Also, it offers significant comfort to those facing adversity.

But even with this perspective, it’s important to remain clear-headed. Suffering is not the only path to success. When faced with challenges, it’s crucial to focus on learning, understanding the broader context - institutional level, practical level and personal level, and filling in the cognitive gaps.