Vertical progress (inventing something new) is harder than horizontal progress (improving existing things) because it requires thinking about something new that doesn’t exist yet. To succeed as a start-up founder, you need to predict the future by critically examining the present. Peter Thiel, a successful entrepreneur, asks job candidates to share an important truth that few people agree with them on because he values those who can think differently and shape the future.

Imagine you’ve analyzed your future possibilities. The next step is to focus. Trying to prepare for all possible future events is ineffective because there are too many unknowns. It’s better to work towards one specific future that suits you best. For example, instead of doing many extracurricular activities to get into a good university, it’s smarter to master one subject and become the best at it.

This idea is crucial for start-ups. They have one best future, and reaching it requires making careful decisions, finding a unique niche, creating an innovative product, and waiting for the right moment. When the time is right, it’s time to take action.