World Model · podcast knowledge graph

How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)

2024-01-11 · 88 min · 59 entities

episode page audio

Asserted relationships

  • → references Eric Schmidt person
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://linkedin.com/in/eric-schmidt-02158951
  • → references sundaylettersfromsam.substack.com website
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://sundaylettersfromsam.substack.com/
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://medium.com/thrive-global/people-who-were-no-smarter-than-you-4e1c88c3fee6
  • → references Ashton Tate person
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashton-Tate
  • → references How Do We Make Sense Of All Of This website
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://sundaylettersfromsam.substack.com/p/how-do-we-make-sense-of-all-of-this
  • → references Calvinism concept
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism
  • → references Ai Isnt A Feature Of Your Product website
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://sundaylettersfromsam.substack.com/p/ai-isnt-a-feature-of-your-product
  • → references Invisible Cities Italo Calvino book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://amazon.com/Invisible-Cities-Italo-Calvino/dp/0156453800
  • → references WASP FACTORY NOVEL Iain Banks book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://amazon.com/WASP-FACTORY-NOVEL-Iain-Banks/dp/0684853159
  • → references Where Good Ideas Come Innovation book
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://amazon.com/Where-Good-Ideas-Come-Innovation/dp/1594485380
  • → hosted by Lenny Rachitsky person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Lenny Rachitsky
  • → works at Microsoft company
    0.48
    evidence rules-v4
    working at Microsoft
  • → works at Microsoft company
    0.48
    evidence rules-v4
    working at Microsoft
  • → discusses Technology company
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Technology
  • → discusses Business concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Business
  • → discusses Entrepreneurship concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Entrepreneurship
  • → references penname.co website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://penname.co/
  • → references Poor Charlies Almanack person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://press.stripe.com/poor-charlies-almanack
  • → references First Principles person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://jamesclear.com/first-principles
  • → references techcrunch.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://techcrunch.com/
  • → references Google Gemini Ai person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://blog.google/technology/ai/google-gemini-ai
  • → references Sergey Brin person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://forbes.com/profile/sergey-brin
  • → references 50c8ce6d 088c 42d9 9147 D1b19b1289d4 website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://max.com/shows/scavengers-reign/50c8ce6d-088c-42d9-9147-d1b19b1289d4
  • → references Mach E person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://ford.com/suvs/mach-e
  • 0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://theverge.com/2013/7/3/4484000/sam-schillace-interview-google-docs-creator-box
  • → references Edna Mode person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Edna_Mode
  • → references Nathan Torkington person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://oreilly.com/people/nathan-torkington
  • → references Learning Doing Sam Schillace person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://linkedin.com/pulse/learning-doing-sam-schillace
  • 0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://techcrunch.com/2005/08/31/writely-process-words-with-your-browser

Entities found in this episode

persons 22

  • mentioned Eric Schmidt person
    0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://linkedin.com/in/eric-schmidt-02158951
  • mentioned Ashton Tate person
    0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashton-Tate
  • references Eric Schmidt person
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://linkedin.com/in/eric-schmidt-02158951
  • references Ashton Tate person
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashton-Tate
  • mentioned Lenny Rachitsky person
    0.70
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Lenny Rachitsky
  • hosted by Lenny Rachitsky person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed author/publisher: Lenny Rachitsky
  • mentioned Poor Charlies Almanack person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://press.stripe.com/poor-charlies-almanack
  • mentioned First Principles person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://jamesclear.com/first-principles
  • mentioned Google Gemini Ai person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://blog.google/technology/ai/google-gemini-ai
  • mentioned Sergey Brin person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://forbes.com/profile/sergey-brin
  • mentioned Mach E person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://ford.com/suvs/mach-e
  • mentioned Edna Mode person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Edna_Mode
  • mentioned Nathan Torkington person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://oreilly.com/people/nathan-torkington
  • mentioned Learning Doing Sam Schillace person
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://linkedin.com/pulse/learning-doing-sam-schillace
  • references Poor Charlies Almanack person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://press.stripe.com/poor-charlies-almanack
  • references First Principles person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://jamesclear.com/first-principles
  • references Google Gemini Ai person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://blog.google/technology/ai/google-gemini-ai
  • references Sergey Brin person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://forbes.com/profile/sergey-brin
  • references Mach E person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://ford.com/suvs/mach-e
  • references Edna Mode person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Edna_Mode
  • references Nathan Torkington person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://oreilly.com/people/nathan-torkington
  • references Learning Doing Sam Schillace person
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://linkedin.com/pulse/learning-doing-sam-schillace

websites 18

  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://sundaylettersfromsam.substack.com/
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://medium.com/thrive-global/people-who-were-no-smarter-than-you-4e1c88c3fee6
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://sundaylettersfromsam.substack.com/p/how-do-we-make-sense-of-all-of-this
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://sundaylettersfromsam.substack.com/p/ai-isnt-a-feature-of-your-product
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://sundaylettersfromsam.substack.com/
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://medium.com/thrive-global/people-who-were-no-smarter-than-you-4e1c88c3fee6
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://sundaylettersfromsam.substack.com/p/how-do-we-make-sense-of-all-of-this
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://sundaylettersfromsam.substack.com/p/ai-isnt-a-feature-of-your-product
  • mentioned penname.co website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://penname.co/
  • mentioned techcrunch.com website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://techcrunch.com/
  • 0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://max.com/shows/scavengers-reign/50c8ce6d-088c-42d9-9147-d1b19b1289d4
  • 0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://theverge.com/2013/7/3/4484000/sam-schillace-interview-google-docs-creator-box
  • 0.45
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://techcrunch.com/2005/08/31/writely-process-words-with-your-browser
  • references penname.co website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://penname.co/
  • references techcrunch.com website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://techcrunch.com/
  • 0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://max.com/shows/scavengers-reign/50c8ce6d-088c-42d9-9147-d1b19b1289d4
  • 0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://theverge.com/2013/7/3/4484000/sam-schillace-interview-google-docs-creator-box
  • 0.38
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://techcrunch.com/2005/08/31/writely-process-words-with-your-browser

concepts 8

  • mentioned Calvinism concept
    0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism
  • references Calvinism concept
    0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism
  • mentioned Business concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Business
  • mentioned Entrepreneurship concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Entrepreneurship
  • 0.42
    evidence rules-v4
    How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)
  • discusses Business concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Business
  • discusses Entrepreneurship concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Entrepreneurship
  • mentioned CTO concept
    0.35
    evidence rules-v4
    CTO

books 6

  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://amazon.com/Invisible-Cities-Italo-Calvino/dp/0156453800
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://amazon.com/WASP-FACTORY-NOVEL-Iain-Banks/dp/0684853159
  • 0.90
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://amazon.com/Where-Good-Ideas-Come-Innovation/dp/1594485380
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://amazon.com/Invisible-Cities-Italo-Calvino/dp/0156453800
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://amazon.com/WASP-FACTORY-NOVEL-Iain-Banks/dp/0684853159
  • 0.77
    evidence rules-v4
    Link in episode "How to be more innovative | Sam Schillace (Microsoft deputy CTO, creator of Google Docs)": https://amazon.com/Where-Good-Ideas-Come-Innovation/dp/1594485380

companys 5

  • mentioned Microsoft company
    0.60
    evidence rules-v4
    working at Microsoft
  • mentioned Technology company
    0.50
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Technology
  • works at Microsoft company
    0.48
    evidence rules-v4
    working at Microsoft
  • works at Microsoft company
    0.48
    evidence rules-v4
    working at Microsoft
  • discusses Technology company
    0.40
    evidence rules-v4
    Feed category: Technology
Episode description as stored
Sam Schillace is deputy CTO and corporate vice president at Microsoft. Prior to working at Microsoft, Sam started a company called Writely, which was acquired by Google and became the foundation of what today is Google Docs. While at Google, Sam helped lead many of Google’s consumer products, including Gmail, Blogger, PageCreator, Picasa, Reader, Groups, and more recently Maps and Google Automotive Services. Sam was also a principal investor at Google Ventures, has founded six startups, and was the SVP of engineering at Box through their IPO. In this episode, we discuss: • The journey of building Google Docs • The importance of taking risks, embracing failure, and finding joy in your work • The importance of asking “what if” questions vs. “why not” • Why convenience always wins • How, and why, Sam stays optimistic • Inside Microsoft’s culture • Why you should solve problems without asking for permission • Early-career advice • Why “pixels are free” and “bots are docs” — Brought to you by Teal —Your personal career growth platform | Vanta —Automate compliance. Simplify security | Ahrefs —Improve your website’s SEO for free — Find the full transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-be-more-innovative-sam-schillace — Where to find Sam Schillace: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schillace/ • Newsletter: https://sundaylettersfromsam.substack.com/ — Where to find Lenny: • Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com • X: https://twitter.com/lennysan • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/ — In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Sam’s background (03:45) The first Google Docs file (06:45) Disruptive innovation (10:11) First-principles thinking (11:00) Recognizing disruptive ideas (13:17) Examples of first-principles thinking (15:46) The power of optimism (19:47) Sam’s motto: Get to the edge of something and f**k around (21:53) User value and laziness (24:31) People are lazy (and what to do about it) (28:36) Building Google Docs (31:06) The evolution of Google Docs (37:15) Finding product-market fit (39:52) The future of documents (44:57) The value of playing with technology (47:58) Taking risks and embracing failure (49:21) Thinking in the future (53:48) Finding joy in your work (01:01:20) Just do the best you can (01:02:34) The transformational power of AI (01:09:27) Advice for approaching AI (01:13:07) The culture at Microsoft (01:16:51) Closing thoughts (01:17:32) Lightning round — Referenced: • Google Docs began as a hacked-together experiment, says creator: https://www.theverge.com/2013/7/3/4484000/sam-schillace-interview-google-docs-creator-box • Edna Mode: https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Edna_Mode • Sergey Brin’s profile on Forbes : https://www.forbes.com/profile/sergey-brin/ • People Who Were No Smarter Than You: https://medium.com/thrive-global/people-who-were-no-smarter-than-you-4e1c88c3fee6 • Nat Torkington (O’Reilly Media): https://www.oreilly.com/people/nathan-torkington/ • How Tesla Has Shaken (Not Stirred) Established Carmakers—and Why It Really Matters: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferdungs/2021/04/23/how-tesla-has-shaken-not-stirred-established-carmakersand-why-it-really-matters/ • First Principles: Elon Musk on the Power of Thinking for Yourself: https://jamesclear.com/first-principles • Ashton Tate: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashton-Tate • Learning by Doing: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/learning-doing-sam-schillace • Kevin Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkevinscott/ • How do we make sense of all of this?: https://sundaylettersfromsam.substack.com/p/how-do-we-make-sense-of-all-of-this • Steve Newman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevescalyr/ • Eric Schmidt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-schmidt-02158951/ • Michael Arrington on X: https://twitter.com/arrington • TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/ • “Hello, Computer” scene from Star Trek : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hShY6xZWVGE • Writely—Process Words with your Browser: https://t