David Barrett: my one thing is…

David is Founder of Expensify

Q: There’s a saying, to pick one thing and do it well. What’s your one thing?

David: Always try harder. There have been so many times in my life when I thought “Wow, I’m really working hard, there’s no way I could do more” but I’ve always been wrong. Hard work is the most reliable strategy for success, and it’s also something over which you have the most control.

Q: What do you like about what you do?

David: It brings me closer to my life-long goals. I suggest setting a goal so ambitious people would laugh at you if they knew, so big it’d take more than your lifetime to complete, but so compelling it’s worth trying anyway.

Q: Anything else you’d like to add?

David: Don’t take advice from people you don’t want to totally emulate. Everyone will give you their opinion when asked, and the worst advice is generally offered with the most confidence. But people can only tell you how to be like themselves; it’s all they know.