The Viktor Frankl Achievement Paradox Silently Sabotages People's Lives. As long as you are aiming at happiness, you cannot obtain it. The more you make it a target, the more you miss the target. IF you focus less on achievement for yourself AND give yourself to a larger cause THEN the more good things happen to you AND the more you help others At that moment that you are no longer concerned with becoming a happy or a successful man or a woman, at that moment happiness installs itself by itself. You get from the world what you give to the world. Isn't it considerable that, instead, life expects something from you? Those inmates or prisoners were most likely to survive the camp period were: 1. Oriented toward a future 2. Orientated for becoming free again in the future 3. Oriented to a meaning that they had to fulfill the future, a task that they had to complete in the future, and/or to be reunited with their beloved people in the future, again (most important). Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. If you want to be massively successful, do NOT set ambitious goals, according to studies.

The Viktor Frankl Achievement Paradox Silently Sabotages People's Lives. As long as you are aiming at happiness, you cannot obtain it. The more you make it a target, the more you miss the target. IF you focus less on achievement for yourself AND give yourself to a larger cause THEN the more good things happen to you AND the more you help others At that moment that you are no longer concerned with becoming a happy or a successful man or a woman, at that moment happiness installs itself by itself. You get from the world what you give to the world. Isn't it considerable that, instead, life expects something from you? Those inmates or prisoners were most likely to survive the camp period were: 1. Oriented toward a future 2. Orientated for becoming free again in the future 3. Oriented to a meaning that they had to fulfill the future, a task that they had to complete in the future, and/or to be reunited with their beloved people in the future, again (most important). Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. If you want to be massively successful, do NOT set ambitious goals, according to studies.

"Product Zeitgeist Fit: A Cheat Code for Spotting and Building the Next Big Thing | Andreessen Horowitz". People need a different motivation to try something new, something that connects with them emotionally rather than functionally. It’s a seemingly simple idea that can create powerful business advantages, a concept I call product zeitgeist fit (PZF): when a product resonates with the mood of the times. Harnessing and cultivating the zeitgeist buys you the time and energy you need to gain support on your way to product-market fit. Product zeitgeist fit helps answer the age-old question—beyond tech platform shifts and other factors—of why some things, especially in consumer tech, work and others just don’t.

When you have PZF, the product resonates with users not because it’s better, but because it feels extremely culturally relevant at that particular moment in time for a particular group of people. Users may or may not love your product, but for some reason, they want it to win. Most startups die not because they can’t get their tech to work or because their competition out-executes them. The death of most startups is indifference. Put simply, most companies fail to launch because no one cares: not users, not employees, not investors, and certainly not the media. It’s death by a thousand shrugs.

Finding PZF isn’t the end of the story, it’s the beginning of it. You still need to work your way to product-market fit, a functional use case, and mainstream adoption. But finding PZF is like getting a thousand extra chances as you weave your way to product-market fit. Here’s the thing about crypto: for those in the mainstream, it’s still not that easy to use. Despite that, people are still using it, building on it, investing in it, and writing about it, allowing it to hold product zeitgeist fit as it moves toward product-market fit.

“Nerd Heat”: Coined by my partner Chris Dixon, this is when the most talented, hardest working, and most in-demand people—the product managers, engineers, and data scientists—are so intrigued by a product that they’re working on it, excited by it, and trying to make it a thing. The “Despite Test”: When people are using a product despite the fact that it’s not the best thing out there, or, in some cases, that it’s straight-up terrible, it’s a great sign. It shows that the product has a line into something emotional, not solely functional. Wanted, not just needed.

The “T-shirt Test”: If people with no connection to the company are wearing their t-shirts or putting their stickers on their laptops or wearing their socks, that desire to associate with the idea indicates as much a movement as a product. The “Eyebrow Test”: In the early days, things that have product zeitgeist fit often feel misunderstood or controversial. At first blush, the conceit may even raise a few eyebrows. But to the people who have been working on those products, they’re so clearly elegant, if temporarily imperfect, solutions to big and important problems that they seem almost obvious once they recognize it.

These things tend to be generational; they’re reactionary; and they’re usually organized around a really compelling villain. Because we always seem to react against the unintended consequences, excesses, and blind spots of the previous generation, the zeitgeist is constantly changing. That means there’s always going to be an opening for innovators and disruptors, especially in consumer tech. Find something that is both important to you and resonates with a group of people at this particular moment in time. In the early days, you’ll need to frame your story—to recruits, to partners, to investors, and to the entire outside world—along those lines. Talk about why your company matters, not just what it does. Make sure your product remains authentic, and product decisions are connected with the mission. Finally, make sure the people you hire are as connected with these ideas as you are. Give everyone a reason to cheer for you.

If you’re just trying to figure out what the future looks like, not just build it, look for the things that are broken and terrible but that people still really care about. Look for the four tests: the raised eyebrows, the T-shirts, the nerd heat, and the people that are still using a product, despite its shortcomings.

Combining the two perspectives, there is a common thread that emphasizes the importance of focusing on something beyond personal achievement and happiness. Viktor Frankl suggests that happiness installs itself when we shift our focus to giving and contributing to a larger cause. Oprah Winfrey echoes this sentiment by emphasizing that we receive from the world what we give to the world.

In the realm of entrepreneurship and product development, the concept of product zeitgeist fit (PZF) aligns with this idea. PZF is about creating products that resonate with the mood of the times and connect with people emotionally. It goes beyond functional value and taps into the cultural relevance of a particular moment in time.

The importance of finding PZF is highlighted by the fact that most startups fail not because they can't get their tech to work, but because no one cares about their product. To succeed, entrepreneurs need to find a way to make their product matter to users, employees, investors, and the media. PZF provides a thousand extra chances to gain support and move towards product-market fit.

To identify PZF, several tests can be applied. The "Nerd Heat" test looks for the enthusiasm and dedication of talented individuals who are working on a product. The "Despite Test" examines whether people continue to use a product despite its flaws, indicating an emotional connection. The "T-shirt Test" assesses the desire of people with no affiliation to associate themselves with a product, indicating a movement rather than just a product. The "Eyebrow Test" focuses on the initial controversial or misunderstood nature of an idea that later becomes recognized as an elegant solution to important problems.

Incorporating these insights, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Shift your focus from personal achievement to contributing to a larger cause. By giving yourself to something beyond yourself, you not only increase the likelihood of happiness but also invite more positive experiences into your life.

2. When developing a product or business, prioritize finding product zeitgeist fit. Understand the mood of the times and create something that emotionally resonates with people. This will increase the chances of gaining support and achieving success.

3. Pay attention to the tests mentioned: Nerd Heat, Despite Test, T-shirt Test, and Eyebrow Test. These tests can help you assess the emotional connection and cultural relevance of your product. Use them as a guide to refine your approach and increase the chances of attracting users and supporters.

In conclusion, the combination of Viktor Frankl's perspective on happiness and achievement, along with the concept of product zeitgeist fit, highlights the importance of focusing on something beyond oneself. By connecting with a larger cause and resonating with the mood of the times, individuals and entrepreneurs can increase their chances of success and fulfillment. Remember to give, find purpose, and create products that emotionally resonate with people.