- The discovery of the “third door” allowed Andrew Yeung to succeed in his career at Google and Meta.
- The concept is about finding unconventional ways to achieve your goals and stand out.
- Yeung took four steps to find the third door and launch a successful career in technology and hospitality.
Until a few years ago, I thought I was going to have a mediocre career.
School was difficult for me. Math, English and science were difficult. I didn’t think I was terribly smart and I had below average grades from middle school until I graduated from college.
It’s not because I didn’t try. Actually, I tried pretty hard. My brain just couldn’t grasp the basic concepts of STEM. Beyond that, I lacked the typical traits associated with success, such as charisma, confidence, and genius-level intelligence.
No matter how much I pushed myself, my results were always below average. I spent hours studying at school, only to end up with bad grades. This pattern repeated itself throughout college, where I would spend months applying for jobs with no response.
I realized that I had to change things, otherwise I would end up with subpar results for the rest of my life. I had to stop doing what everyone else was doing because it wasn’t working for me.
Everything changed for me in 2019 when I came across Alex Banayan’s book, “The Third Door”. It completely transformed the way I do things and ultimately helped me land management positions at Google and Meta.
What is the “third door”?
Imagine trying to get into an exclusive nightclub. There are three doors: a general entrance through which everyone passes, a second door for VIPs and celebrities, and a third door let no one try.
After discovering this idea, I got into the habit of solving every problem by finding the third door.
I became almost allergic to conformity, ignoring common wisdom. Every time I saw someone doing something a certain way, I tried to do it differently and was convinced that there was always a simpler, unconventional, non-obvious way to get things done .
Here are the four things I started doing to improve my chances of having a fulfilling, high-growth career.
1. I started creating magnets attract the attention of decision-makers
I’ve always had trouble getting into the room, whether it’s an interview room with the hiring manager, a private dinner with executives, or a conference room with decision makers . Getting into this position often required knowing the right people, having a top-notch resume, or being exceptionally intelligent or charismatic. I was neither of those, so I realized I had to create the piece myself.
Instead of trying to get into private dinners with CEOs, I hosted my own.
Instead of trying to get on stage and get the attention of business leaders, I created my own stage and invited the leaders I wanted to speak with.
Instead of chasing people, I learned to create valuable items that would attract the attention of those I wanted to meet.
2. I started to differentiate myself by my speed of execution
Throughout my career, I have used my speed of execution as a competitive advantage, and it has always paid off.
By responding to his email within 10 seconds, I landed an internship with the CEO of a company with more than 20,000 employees.
At Facebook and Google, I had the opportunity to work on projects with higher visibility because I was the first person to raise their hand.
I also made presentations within a minute of asking. Being faster is the easiest way to differentiate yourself.
3. I started investing for a decade relationships while everyone else was focused on transactional relationships
Over the past few years, I have interacted with thousands of people and observed that most people take a short-sighted approach to building relationships, especially in fast-paced metropolitan cities like New York and San Francisco.
It makes sense: There is a high density of remarkable people, giving you what seem like endless relationship options, but in reality, this false sense of optionality can hurt you.
Early in my career, I was rejected by dozens of hiring managers. Each time, I accepted the rejection with grace, thanked them for their time, and offered to provide value to them by introducing them to other candidates. Finally, it came back.
I graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in finance and economics. My first job out of school came after being rejected from a company’s internship program. I took this opportunity to build a relationship with their hiring manager and maintained that relationship for over a year.
My journey to Facebook came from a cold relationship that turned into a mentoring relationship that lasted over three years, and my entry point into Google came from building a long-term relationship with someone I met spontaneously.
The strongest professional relationships are built over several decades.
4. I started giving without expecting a return
My strategy for accessing job opportunities, CEOs, and influencers has always been to make volunteering my greatest asset: my time. It’s my Trojan horse for opening doors, building relationships, and accessing greater opportunities.
In my early 20s, I knew nothing about startups and technology, so I introduced myself to CEOs of startup companies, offering my help and suggestions. Eventually, a few people hired me, and it became my method for breaking into the tech world as a non-techie. This approach helped me build my personal brand as a young, helpful and hungry operator.
The third door helped me succeed
These four habits ultimately allowed me to access opportunities, build relationships with prominent tech leaders, and “break into” tech without good grades or a strong resume.
In reality, I consider myself an average person who is not particularly talented or exceptionally intelligent in any specific area, but I have managed to find some success by discovering the unfair advantages that particularly suit me.
Andrew Yeung is a former Meta and Google employee who now hosts tech parties. Andrew’s Blenders, runs a tech events company called Fibe and invests in Next Wave NYC.
