“Building Nvidia turned out to have been a million times harder than I expected it to be—than any of us expected it to be. If we realized the pain and suffering involved and just how vulnerable you’re going to feel, the challenges that you’re going to endure, the embarrassment and the shame, and the list of all the things that go wrong—I don’t think anybody would start a company. Nobody in their right mind would do it.”
We usually think experience is great. Experienced people should spot problems early and avoid risks. But sometimes, that same experience can actually get in the way.
Meanwhile, beginners often just jump into projects, figuring things out as they go. And sometimes, they get amazing results.
When Experience Gets in the Way
Experience teaches you what can go wrong. But knowing all the risks can make you too careful. Someone experienced might overthink every detail and get stuck. This “analysis paralysis” means the fear of messing up stops them from doing anything at all.
Think about tech. Older engineers might worry too much about potential problems with new coding languages or tools. But newer developers might just start coding and fix problems as they pop up.
Expertise is the enemy of innovation
Playing it Safe
The more experience you gain, the less likely you might be to take big risks. Knowing how badly things can fail makes experienced people hesitate. But taking chances is often how new ideas and fast progress happen.
Plus, experienced pros often have more to lose (financial and family responsibilities, or a reputation), making them even more careful.
The Power of Just Doing It
Beginners, however, don’t carry the weight of past mistakes or successes. They’re often willing to try things that look risky or even silly to experts. Because they jump in, they might find creative or unexpected ways to solve problems.
This “learn as you go” approach can lead to fast growth and surprising wins.
Think about startups. Young founders often challenge the old ways of doing business because they aren’t tied down by “how things have always been done.”
In response some companies have begun structuring specific teams to operate more like startups, allowing them to maneuver with the agility of a speedboat rather than the sluggishness of a tanker, while still keeping some of the upsides of being part of a larger company.
Finding the Right Mix
This doesn’t mean experience is bad. The best approach often mixes the boldness of newcomers with the wisdom of veterans.
Companies do best when they create teams where both experienced pros and eager beginners can work together well. This creates a great balance between being careful and trying new things.
Conclusion
So, experience is definitely valuable, but we need to see its downsides too. Being too careful because of past experience can slow things down and block new ideas.
On the flip side, the “just try it” attitude of inexperience, while sometimes risky, brings fresh eyes and energy that are key for growth.
Like most things in life and work, finding the right balance usually works best.
The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one’s self to destiny.