Patrick OShaughnessy(@patrick_oshag):Despite being widely regarded as one of the best venture investors of all time, Michael Moritz says he's never once felt like he was good at something: "I've never felt I'm really good at something. That's not false modesty on my part. Everybody is plagued by doubts and competitiveness. And it's a failing on my part. I have a very difficult time celebrating good things and celebrating success. I think I've always felt everything is unfinished and could be improved. None of it's ever been perfect. Sometimes when I paint and compare a painting to what I might have been able to paint 10 years ago, I see a road to improvement, but then you go to MoMA or the Met and you're diminished, and you're reduced to being an insignificant speck."

2026.09.16 18:18

Despite being widely regarded as one of the best venture investors of all time, Michael Moritz says he's never once felt like he was good at something: "I've never felt I'm really good at something. That's not false modesty on my part. Everybody is plagued by doubts and competitiveness. And it's a failing on my part. I have a very difficult time celebrating good things and celebrating success. I think I've always felt everything is unfinished and could be improved. None of it's ever been perfect. Sometimes when I paint and compare a painting to what I might have been able to paint 10 years ago, I see a road to improvement, but then you go to MoMA or the Met and you're diminished, and you're reduced to being an insignificant speck."

Patrick OShaughnessy@patrick_oshag

2026.09.16 13:22

My conversation with Michael Moritz, one of the great venture investors of the last 40 years. Michael joined Sequoia in 1986 and co-led the firm with Doug Leone (@dougleone) from 1995 to 2012. His investments include Google, Yahoo, PayPal, and Stripe. His new book, Ausländer, traces his parents' escape from Nazi Germany and helps explain his lifelong interest in what shapes exceptional people. We discuss: - The infamous Steve Jobs profile - Why Don Valentine hired him - The question he finds most revealing when interviewing people - Monomania and the cost of greatness - Why he has never felt good at anything - Writing, journalism and AI - What he learned about himself writing Ausländer I'd recommend watching this one if you can. Michael was incredibly thoughtful and reflective throughout, particularly when talking about his parents, childhood, and the more difficult parts of his personal story. Enjoy! TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 0:53 Family History & Identity 7:03 Survival & Outsider Instinct 18:53 Studying Exceptional People 33:50 Self-Doubt & Success 41:17 Steve Jobs & Obsession 52:50 Joining Sequoia 1:03:22 Leadership & Alex Ferguson 1:08:25 Elon Musk & AI 1:17:12 Becoming Who You Are

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