Bill Gurley Credits MrBeast for Peer Collaboration Success

Silicon Valley investor Bill Gurley has identified a specific behavior that drives success: collaborating with peers instead of competing against them. Gurley, a venture capitalist known for backing major companies such as Uber, Zillow, and Grubhub, discussed this strategy during an appearance on "The Tim Ferriss Show."

He pointed to MrBeast, the world's most-followed YouTuber, as the ultimate example of this mindset. Gurley explained that MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, did not achieve success in isolation. Instead, Donaldson engaged in extensive virtual meetings with other creators to analyze what makes content go viral. This dedication to shared learning is a central theme in Gurley's upcoming book, "Runnin' Down a Dream."

According to Bill Gurley, success in any industry requires deep knowledge and immersion. He suggests that being physically present in the center of action, such as a major city for technology, is beneficial. However, he argues that virtual relationships are equally valuable for gaining expertise.

Gurley warns against having "sharp elbows" in business. He believes many people fail because they view their peers solely as obstacles to overcome. In a prosperous world, this mindset is unnecessary. Instead, he advocates for "co-climbing," where individuals lift each other up.

He stated, "I think far too many people have sharp elbows to peers, because they think they're climbing the ladder and they've got to beat these people, and the world's just way too prosperous to have that mindset." He added, "You can learn so much and get so much value from co-climbing that you should definitely do that."

The specific example Gurley used to illustrate this point was the early career of Jimmy Donaldson. Before becoming a global sensation, Donaldson was "infatuated" with the mechanics of YouTube. He did not simply guess what worked; he systematically studied it with a group of peers.

Donaldson detailed this process during a 2022 appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience." He explained that after graduating high school, he committed to daily Skype calls with a small group of aspiring YouTubers. These sessions were rigorous and long, sometimes lasting from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Donaldson said, "We basically talked every day for a thousand days in a row, and did nothing but hyperstudy what makes a good video, what makes a good thumbnail, what's good pacing, how to go viral." The group focused entirely on the technical aspects of content creation, sharing insights and critiquing each other's work.

The results of this intense collaboration were undeniable. By the time the group stopped their daily calls, each member had grown their channels to millions of subscribers. Gurley noted that this story perfectly exemplifies the value of embracing peers.

Bill Gurley is a prominent figure in the technology investment space. His firm, Benchmark Capital, was an early investor in Uber, helping the ride-sharing giant expand globally. He also backed Zillow and Grubhub, two companies that fundamentally changed their respective industries.

Gurley's insights into MrBeast's methods are not just casual observations. He is preparing to release a book titled "Runnin' Down a Dream," which outlines six principles for success. The story of Donaldson and his peers serves as a cornerstone for one of these principles.

Gurley first heard Donaldson share the story on a podcast and later spoke with him directly to confirm the details. The narrative underscores that high-level success often comes from deliberate practice and community support, rather than solitary genius.

The lesson from Bill Gurley and MrBeast is clear: isolation is not a strategy for growth. By treating peers as collaborators rather than competitors, individuals can accelerate their learning and achieve results that might otherwise take years.

As Donaldson's group proved, hyper-studying a craft together leads to mastery. For entrepreneurs and creators alike, the path to success may be paved by the relationships built along the way.