Make Disadvantage Your Superpower | Lex Fridman | AMA #6

[thetensordude]

"Rock bottom has made more warriors than privilege ever did!"
-Eminem

[zakariaibrahim]

Thanks a lot for replying this is surreal😮 I never thought that you'll see the comment. I don't even know what to say, I haven't watched the video yet, will edit comment after.

[tabi]

What a beautiful human being. Things like this convince me that good is still here and that it'll eventually overtake evil.

[MyNameIssaSimon]

The internet is the biggest equalizer in human history.

[keshavkasat]

Make your disadvantages your superpowers. This hits hard. When my story is written someday, those early chapters of struggle won't be footnotes—they'll be the foundation of whatever I build. What I love about Lex's advice practical yet inspiring it is: build stuff, finish projects (even small ones), share them with the world. Don't just learn—create. The part about not losing your passion really resonated with me... how that fire might dim sometimes but if it's real, it always returns. And success isn't just MIT or Stanford—it's finding fulfillment in your own path.
Take bold risks while young, create value for others, and trust that putting honest work out into the world leads to something magical, even if it's not what you initially imagined. Saving this for those days when I need to remember that the hardship chapters are actually where the good stuff happens.

[tjdoss]

"Being kind to people, working hard and putting things you love, out there"

[NathanielTurner]

I'm sorry Lex but you're simply a beautiful being.

[skinzocm]

for people who don't know there is a war in libya going on since 2011 so respect to you zakaria keep going my friend

[robertus]

Quick Summary:

We live in a world where there's a lot of injustice. A world where we don't all start from the same place.

How to make a more just world? Focus on what you can do.

Your disadvantage is your superpower. Use it as fuel.

• If you are living in a place that is not optimal for your passion (Artificial Intelligence) - take your education online. This way you can overcome your physical constraints.

• Build things and use the internet to show them to the world. Learn how to program. Build something new.
• Start by reimplementing things that other people have done.

• Then find something specific that you are curious, something that gives you a spark of joy. Do not lose track of that joy.

• Finish building something small, something not too ambitious at first, but something cool.

• Share your work with people. Share everywhere.

Be kind. Work hard. Put yourself out there.

[JasonSantos]

'I judge you unfortunate because you have never lived through misfortune.
You have passed through life without an opponent - no one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you.'
~ Seneca
Godspeed

[kgmillerdev]

It warms my heart to know that there are people out there like yourself, Lex, holding down Love's position on the intellectual plane with true brilliance, so clearly visible. Never stop being you. And Zakaria - if you can see it in your mind's eye, and you can hold it there - burning - it is already done. That's the work.

[kungmatte]

"Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you."

I know it may not be the same message, but after reading the title my mind instantly went to this quote

[kazuosan]

Thanks for your inspiration words Lex 🙏♥

[andylee]

Lex Fridman, thank you so much for putting yourself out on the internet. You have been one of the most inspiring people I have ever seen.

[weaselbox]

This is what my dad has always told me make your disadvantage your strength...work on strengthening your weakness. as a little girl, being hard of hearing, half deaf I struggled alot . I will never forget the day he sat me down when i came home crying from school, because i was made fun of for being deaf. He said to me that IAM NO DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS INSIDE and to have compassion because they did not understand yet. it was up to me to teach them that. he showed me tricks to help me understand people better in language ---took me to the library and got me a library card and a stack of books, and signed me up for gymnastics to help with my balance. Now as adult i am so thankful for those things he imparted on me . also that saying the struggle is part of the path. it may be difficult but not impossible. bekind to others. support whom love. all these words come to mind when i face things on the daily, and when i see friends having a hard time i say these things to cheerlead others on. my superpower now as an adult is being able to read body language. I help when i can when i see others suffering . Also thank you lex for all your videos (and that YOU INCLUDE CC : o )

[dansken]

This is one of the most inspiring videos I've watched and I'm not kidding. It really spoke to me, especially the part about passion and how it always returns. That has always been true my whole life, you temporarily lose interest in stuff that excites you but it almost always has come back to you at a later point.

[kritischinteressiert]

All the motivation speakers out there may be very strong in their body and face language. Lex does it just with words. Fantastic and very deep speech, because of its purity. Thank you!

[daniel__]

Definitely. Use your disadvantage as a motivation.
I myself have everything. Living in Germany, great parents, really smart. I never had a disadvantage. But that makes one so comfortable, bringing your ass up to do something becomes really hard.

[PrinceoftheAirJr]

'Remember, Lex... We are the... 'Accumulative' of our experiences... 'Not only our experiences, but the experiences of our ancestors contained within our DNA. 'Stay humble, just as you do. You are doing a Noble Thing.

[Ivakkk]

Lex we need more Q&A! Thanks for everything