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None of Elon Musk’s companies were started by Musk alone. They all took a dedicated team of subject matter experts.

Thanks to 30 years of self-promotion, the song “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey streams 1 million+ times daily each holiday season.

A soon-to-be dad’s mission to connect with his immigrant parents led to a cooking channel with millions of subscribers and two James Beard Awards.

"Tiffany Blue®" and "Minions Yellow™" are always the same shade no matter where you see them, thanks to the part-time employee who invented the Pantone Color Matching System.

Mary Barra held 13 roles at the Fortune 500 company General Motors before becoming its CEO.

Ramin Djawadi went from being an assistant to composing HBO’s Game of Thrones soundtrack.

IKEA would have never become the king of “build-it-yourself” furniture had its employee #4 not suggested the idea.

LVMH (which owns the most valuable luxury brands from Louis Vuitton to Dior) created its own definition of success.

Bank of America would not be around today had its founder, Amadeo Peter Giannini, not lent coins off a San Francisco pier.

Did you know that Sallie Krawcheck became the CEO of 4 different Wall Street businesses—Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. (now AB Bernstein), Smith Barney (now Morgan Stanley Wealth Management), Citi Wealth Management, and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and US Trust—within 10 years?

Did you know that Shopify, the $7 billion e-commerce platform used by Allbirds, Gymshark, and Chubbies, started because its co-founders Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake needed a better way to sell their snowboards online?

Did you know that Marriott International, the largest lodging company in the world, started as a nine-stool A&W root beer stand?

Did you know that Stanley’s “Quencher” cup doubled its revenue 3 times in 3 years? What does this mean for your career? Hint: Ashlee LeSueur, Taylor Cannon, Linley Hutchinson, and Lauren Solomon made history!

Food4Education took a free lunch program in India, adapted it to Kenya, and now feeds 300,000 schoolchildren per day (and was just named a TIME100 Most Influential Company of 2024).

Did you know that the USA just won its first women's road race Olympic gold in 40 years—thanks to Kristen Faulkner, a venture capitalist who picked up cycling after work?

Did you know that the largest US-Russia prisoner swap since the Cold War required cooperation across 7 countries?

Did you know that Fei-Fei Li, the “godmother of AI,” got to where she is today because she never became complacent?

Did you know? JD Vance would not have gotten to where he is today had he not gone to office hours and met a special guest speaker while in law school.

Did you know that the Disney movie “Frozen” is based on a fairytale from the 1800s?

Did you know that career success = skill x drive x luck? Find out what legendary genetics researcher Mary-Claire King (who discovered BRCA1, “the breast cancer gene”) can teach us for our own careers.

Did you know that the founder of the United Farm Workers union started her career as an elementary school teacher?

What do Joe Biden and MrBeast have in common?

Did you know that Coke was once at risk of losing out to Pepsi… and losing its loyal fanbase?

On this non-exhaustive list, you'll find my top 12 life hacks for first-generation college graduates, from getting a credit card to taking up side projects.

If you or someone you know has a Nintendo Switch, you’ve also seen its hybrid design: the Switch can be played on a television set or it can be turned into a portable handheld console. But did you know that the Nintendo Switch happened because Nintendo wanted to break away from the competition?

When you think of American Express, what comes to mind? Credit cards? What if I told you that American Express actually started out as a shipping company? What can American Express’s change in direction teach us about changing direction in our careers?

When she was 6 years old, Nobel Prize-winning economist Esther Duflo asked herself, “Why?” This question turned into a hypothesis that evolved into her life’s work: alleviating poverty.

Yale undergrad Frederick W. Smith wrote a paper for his economics class, proposing a more efficient delivery system. 20 years later, the paper’s proposal became a million-dollar company—which we know today as FedEx.

Marine biology teacher Stephen Hillenburg loved the ocean—and drawing. SpongeBob SquarePants, one of the most popular and longest-running TV shows of all time, is the merger of his two passions.

Racehorse Seabiscuit and jockey Red Pollard were underdogs that became a symbol of hope and second chances. What can Seabiscuit and Pollard teach us about building a strong personal brand?

Comedy writers Leonard B. Stern and Roger Price had an idea: a silly storybook of funny fill in the blanks. There was just one problem: People didn’t understand the idea. What can “Mad Libs” (which has since sold more than 120 million copies) teach us about selling our ideas effectively?

Aspiring author and college student Samin Nosrat felt directionless. So, she applied to be a busser at a local restaurant. 17 years later, Nosrat fulfilled her writing dream—as a chef.

Former high school principal Doug Lemov wanted to understand why some teachers were more effective than others. Five years later, he went on to write a bestselling guide for teachers and lead Uncommon Schools, a charter school.

Nobel Prize winner Katalin Karikó was rejected by academic journals, denied grant funding, and even kicked out of her lab for what was considered insignificant work.

Dog sled teams, who helped save the small town of Nome, Alaska in 1925, are comprised of carefully selected pups. Without the right dogs placed in the right places, the team is doomed to fail.

Nike started out as a side hustle between a college track coach and an accountant.

US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor knew she wanted to become an attorney since the age of 10. Her journey went as intended… until she was rejected for a full-time job offer after a summer internship with a New York corporate law firm. Three decades later, she was appointed to the US Supreme Court. What can Sonia Sotomayor teach us about rerouting our path to reach our full potential?

In 1908, a new cookie was born: one made up of a sweet cream filling sandwiched between two chocolate-y wafers. Thinking OREO? Not quite. That's because OREO is a direct copycat of a cookie called Hydrox—which became obsolete after OREO crushed it in sales. What can we learn about how OREO overtook its competition for our own careers?

Did you know? The director of the “Dune” series (2021, 2024), Denis Villeneuve, was originally going to become a biologist. But, feeling deeply depressed, Villeneuve dropped everything—and enrolled in film school. What can his 40-year journey teach us about finding fulfillment in our own careers?

Did you know? The most powerful telescope ever, designed to find and photograph the first galaxies in the universe, had 344 ways it could fail—and yet it did not. What can NASA’s meticulous planning teach us for our own careers?

Did you know? Reliance Industries, India’s largest company (88th on the Fortune 500), owns 234 subsidiary companies from grocery stores to gas stations. What can we learn from Reliance’s early days for our own careers?

Did you know? Heart-shaped Valentine’s Day chocolate originated from a 19th-century marketing strategy. What can we learn from this sweet tradition for our own careers?

In 2014, Celeste Ng released her first novel ever. Five months later, it was Amazon’s Best Book of the Year. What can we learn for our own careers?

In 1814, British troops invading Washington, D.C. took to their ships and fled. Why? A canon-tossing tornado landed on the Capitol. What can we learn from the “Storm That Saved Washington” for our own careers?

Angela Merkel, the former German Chancellor, went from a physics Ph.D. to a political campaign volunteer to the first female leader of Germany. What can we learn from Merkel’s volunteering for our own careers?

The General Sherman is the largest tree on Earth. How did it get this big… and what can its growth teach us about growing our own careers?

Instant noodles are associated with college students, late nights, and empty wallets. But did you know the easy meal started in a backyard shed as a response to food shortages? What can the company with $5 billion in revenue today teach us for our own careers?

Oprah dreamed of being “famous” as a teenager. Today, she’s a household name known for her media empire and boasts $2.8B in net worth. How did Oprah make her goals reality?

What can the man behind Trader Joe’s—the small but mighty grocery store with $16B in revenue—teach us about the power of a point of view? And, what can you learn from Joe for your own career?

Slack’s relentless search for feedback led them to a $28B acquisition in just two years. What can Slack’s journey teach us for our own careers?

What can one of the hottest toys of the 90s (Polly Pocket) teach us about finding our “edge” for our own careers?

Gorick’s top travel gear recommendations for virtual keynote speakers and anyone joining conferences, meetings, or podcasts on the go.

How did Susan Cain lead the “Quiet Revolution”? What can her path from Wall Street corporate attorney to New York Times bestselling author teach us about building a personal brand?

How did Ursula Burns work her way up from executive assistant to CEO of Xerox? What can her journey teach us about being seen and heard?

How did pickleball become the fastest-growing sport in America? And what can the tennis-like game teach us about how to make smarter career moves by being… simpler?

How did The Rock become the superstar he is today—and what can his career moves teach us about how we should navigate our own careers?

In honor of National First Generation College Celebration Day, here are 10 first-generation college student experiences that I thought were setbacks but that are actually superpowers.

Did you know? 36 billion. That’s the number of streams that Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny has amassed on Spotify since 2020, putting him at the top of the charts for 3 years in a row. What can we learn for our own careers from Bad Bunny’s example?

Did You Know? “Halloween” (1978) used a $2 mask to build a $700M movie franchise. What can we learn from “Halloween” for our careers?

Did you know that shoppers used to check out at grocery stores using punch cards? The first barcode was dreamt up in 1947. Then why did it take 27 years for it to be put into practice?

Did you know that this former migrant farmer was rejected by NASA *eleven* times? How did he become an astronaut at age 47?

Did you know that the first Star Wars standalone film (Rogue One, 2016) was refilmed only two months before its release in theaters? Why was it changed—and what can we learn from it?

Gorick's must-have gear for a complete home studio setup. Perfect for virtual meetings, webinars, speaking engagements and keynote presentations.

How was the coffee filter invented? That's our topic in this week’s edition of “Did You Know?”

How did Doug McMillon become the CEO of Walmart?

How did Listerine become the biggest brand of mouthwash in the world?

How did Angela Ahrendts become the head of Apple Retail?

If you’re a college student reading this right now, you may be preparing—if you haven’t started already—for your first week of classes back on campus (or your first week of classes at college, ever!). To help make the most of your college experience, I've compiled my top college life hacks. If you’re a first-generation college student like I was, these are the tips that I wish someone had told me sooner.

How was the Super Soaker invented? This week, I deconstruct the “mistake” that became a $200 million business.

What made Ed Sheeran successful? Check out this week’s issue of #DidYouKnowWithGorick, where I deconstruct his career moves, step by step!

$1,000,000,000. Did you know? That’s the number of box office sales Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” just surpassed earlier this month. How did Gerwig become the first woman—and 29th solo director in history—to break this record?

Did you know that Stephen King—prolific horror fiction author behind cult classics such as “Carrie”, “It”, and “The Shining”—actually threw away the draft to what would become his breakout novel? Why did he decide to finish what he had thrown out?

Did you know that the first woman to successfully climb Mount Everest survived an avalanche—and nearly had to turn around because of it? What helped her make it to the summit? What can we learn from her about how to be a good leader?

Did you know that the first book agent for Chicken Soup for the Soul quit, telling authors Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, “I can’t sell this”? How did the book become a bestseller?

Did you know that Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington was almost going to become a doctor? What changed his mind?

Have you ever moved for your career? It could be worth it! This week, we’ll take a trip to the Nashville cafe where Taylor Swift was discovered. Next, we’ll investigate the top 10 cities for growing your career (Can you guess which metropolitans made it? Hint: It’s not San Francisco!). Not a new grad? Check out the strategies section for relocation insights for professionals of any level!

How often do you take a break at work? Last week, I asked this question to my newsletter subscribers. 84% of you said that you take breaks when you lose focus or when you can’t push forward anymore—and not because you schedule breaks into your routine. In the newest edition of “Did You Know?”, we’ll explore how one biologist slowed down to speed up—and how you can practice taking a pause for a healthier, sharper brain, too.

What can you gain by having a mentor? Is it better mental health? A promotion or pay raise? A road to smoother success? Spoiler alert: All of these may be true, but so is mentorship’s decline—and it could affect you, too.

Do you have a side hustle? If not, it might be time to start one! For the next edition of “Did You Know? with Gorick”, we’ll be learning from the nearly 20-year journey of an electrical engineer and a spiky seed and exploring how your observational skills could benefit your overall well-being.

In the new edition of “Did You Know? with Gorick”, make sure your laces are tied tight: We’ll be dribbling through what engineers and Air Jordan can teach us about using feedback to shoot for success and elevate your career.

Are you asking enough questions? This week, join me for the fourth edition of “Did You Know? with Gorick”, where we’ll dive into hand-holding chimpanzees, computers and communication, and why now is the time to ask: “Why do we do things this way?”

What happens when we’re willing to see a friend where others see a foe? In the third edition of “Did You Know? with Gorick”, prepare to learn what a remarkable NASA “computer” can teach us about our own careers in the face of rapidly advancing technology.

What can a former Wall Street trader teach us about standing out… and what does the construction industry have to do with it?

In the first edition of Gorick's newsletter, "Did You Know? with Gorick", learn about what the former President of Ford can teach us about rebounding from a layoff.

To “become your own professor” is to commit to the pursuit of self-development even when it looks completely different from how you’ve spent the last decade and a half. Society has set a low bar. Do just a bit more than the bare minimum and you’ll already be ahead—and will continue to stay ahead.

Learn how to facilitate effective book club discussions, including how to structure your meetings, how to encourage participation, and how to conduct icebreakers.

As college decision day nears, many students are asking themselves the same questions: How do I pick which college to go to? What makes one college better than another? How can I make an informed decision about my future, especially if no one in my family has pursued a higher education before? Harvard career adviser and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Gorick Ng offers advice for first-generation and/or low-income students navigating the college decision process.

Did your summer internship offer get withdrawn? Did your study abroad plans get canceled? Did the start date of your full-time job get pushed back? Here are 10 options for staying productive this summer.

Ever heard your manager say something like “I need this by EOW” or “Let’s save some dry powder” and thought… Huh?? Here’s a corporate jargon dictionary for all of your workplace needs (that means, this is what you’ll hear people say… and what they really mean).

Simple new year resolution tips for reaching your goals and boosting your career. Update your resume with your 2022 accomplishments so you don't forget.

What it looks like when a student struggles in school, from an academic and emotional perspective. More importantly, what educators can do to support these students.

Are you a student or new grad deciding which jobs to apply for? Or are you wondering how to create a list of potential employers? Here's a quick guide to help you out!

Scholarships and programs for first-generation college students and students from underrepresented/under-resourced backgrounds, such as Black/African American, Hispanic, and Disabled students.