Before becoming the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos had dreams of unraveling the mysteries of the universe. During his time at Princeton University, he aimed to be a theoretical physicist. That plan, however, came crashing down over a single stubborn homework problem. As Bezos recounted in a 2018 interview with The Economic Club of Washington, the moment revealed to him that he might not excel in physics—and set him on the path to entrepreneurship.
A Math Problem That Spoke Volumes
Bezos described working with his roommate for three hours on a complex partial differential equation, only to get nowhere. Frustrated, they turned to their friend Yasantha Rajakarunanayake, “the smartest guy at Princeton.” In seconds, Yasantha identified the solution as a cosine function. “That was the very moment when I realized I was never going to be a great theoretical physicist,” Bezos said, reflecting on how this realization shifted his career trajectory toward business and technology.
The incident illustrates a turning point: while Bezos excelled academically, he recognized that his talents might be better suited to problem-solving in a real-world, high-stakes environment rather than in theoretical abstractions. The decision eventually led him to create Amazon, transforming retail and technology forever.
Why Physical Science Still Matters in Tech
Interestingly, other tech leaders echo Bezos’s early fascination with physics. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, in a recent interview with CNBC Make It, revealed that if he were 22 today, he would study physical sciences over software. Huang emphasized that understanding fundamental principles like force, friction, and inertia is critical for the next generation of AI, particularly as the industry moves toward “Reasoning AI” and robotics.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov and Elon Musk have similarly advised students to master mathematics and physics, reinforcing the notion that foundational sciences provide the tools for deep problem-solving, innovation, and strategic thinking.
Bezos’s humorous anecdote is more than just a story from college. It underscores a larger truth: understanding the fundamentals, knowing one’s strengths, and pivoting when necessary can define a career. For aspiring entrepreneurs and technologists, physics might not just be about formulas—it could be about learning how to tackle problems, recognize limitations, and chart a course for groundbreaking ventures.
A Math Problem That Spoke Volumes
Bezos described working with his roommate for three hours on a complex partial differential equation, only to get nowhere. Frustrated, they turned to their friend Yasantha Rajakarunanayake, “the smartest guy at Princeton.” In seconds, Yasantha identified the solution as a cosine function. “That was the very moment when I realized I was never going to be a great theoretical physicist,” Bezos said, reflecting on how this realization shifted his career trajectory toward business and technology.
The incident illustrates a turning point: while Bezos excelled academically, he recognized that his talents might be better suited to problem-solving in a real-world, high-stakes environment rather than in theoretical abstractions. The decision eventually led him to create Amazon, transforming retail and technology forever.
Why Physical Science Still Matters in Tech
Interestingly, other tech leaders echo Bezos’s early fascination with physics. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, in a recent interview with CNBC Make It, revealed that if he were 22 today, he would study physical sciences over software. Huang emphasized that understanding fundamental principles like force, friction, and inertia is critical for the next generation of AI, particularly as the industry moves toward “Reasoning AI” and robotics.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov and Elon Musk have similarly advised students to master mathematics and physics, reinforcing the notion that foundational sciences provide the tools for deep problem-solving, innovation, and strategic thinking.
Bezos’s humorous anecdote is more than just a story from college. It underscores a larger truth: understanding the fundamentals, knowing one’s strengths, and pivoting when necessary can define a career. For aspiring entrepreneurs and technologists, physics might not just be about formulas—it could be about learning how to tackle problems, recognize limitations, and chart a course for groundbreaking ventures.
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