"We should be building great things that don't exist"

Building great things that don't exist is all about innovation and creativity. It's about pushing beyond the boundaries of what's currently possible and imagining something entirely new. Essentially, it means looking at the world, seeing what's missing, and having the courage to create it.

Historically, this kind of thinking has driven some of the biggest advancements in human history. Think back to the Wright brothers. In the early 1900s, the idea of humans flying was pretty much science fiction. If they had been content with what already existed—trains, cars, ships—we might not have the aviation industry we do today. They envisioned something no one had seen before and made it a reality.

Let’s bring it into a more relatable context. Think about Elon Musk and his companies—Tesla and SpaceX. Electric cars and commercial space travel were ideas that seemed a bit out there not so long ago. But Musk saw the potential for something great that didn’t yet exist. He took risks, faced failures, but ultimately revolutionized both industries. Tesla didn't just create an electric car; it sparked an entire market. SpaceX didn't just build rockets; it changed the space industry by making space travel more affordable and reusable.

So, how can you apply this mindset in your life? Start by identifying gaps around you, areas that need improvement, or things that simply don't exist yet. It doesn't have to be a revolutionary invention; it could be something small but impactful. Maybe there's a process at work that’s inefficient, or perhaps you see a need for a community service that could really help people. The key is to look beyond what's already there and envision what could be. Don’t just settle for the status quo.

Imagine you’re in a coffee shop, chatting with a friend. They tell you about a problem they’ve been having with finding a good way to organize their growing collection of digital photos. It's inconvenient, and current solutions just don’t cut it for them. You think, "What if there was a better way?" So you start brainstorming. You sketch out an app that uses AI to sort and categorize photos automatically, making it easy to find and share them. You pitch the idea to a few friends, get some feedback, and before you know it, you’re working on something that could change the way people manage their digital memories.

In this scenario, you didn't just accept the existing solutions. You thought about what was missing and decided to create something new. And that’s the essence of building great things that don’t exist. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone, taking risks, and daring to make your vision a reality.

Remember, it’s okay to start small. Maybe that great thing you build initially serves just a handful of people. But if it solves a real problem, it can grow. Stay curious, keep questioning, and don’t be afraid to dream big. You never know—your idea might just be the next big thing the world didn’t know it was waiting for.