9781422270448

The Marine Corps was incredibly strict and Hastings had trouble fitting in. “My questioning wasn’t particularly encouraged, and I realized I might be better off in the Peace Corps,” he told an interviewer. Enrolling in the Peace Corps, a volunteer organization that sends members to all areas of the world to help those in need, would allow Hastings to serve his country in a different way. Its members help by building houses, distributing food, or becoming teachers. Not wasting any time, Hastings left for Peace Corps training on the day of his graduation from Bowdoin College. Hastings was sent to teach mathematics in Swaziland, a small country on the southeastern tip of Africa. He lived far out in the country, away from any city, teaching in a school that didn’t even have electricity. He spent three years there, before returning home to the United States. Hastings’ experience in the Peace Corps completely changed how he thought about the world and business. Since he didn’t have much money while he was working in Africa, he needed to learn how to live with limited resources. When he returned home, Hastings applied to Stanford University and moved to California to study computer science. Earning a master’s degree is never easy, but the hard work helped prepare him for the future challenges of building his own company and keeping it strong. YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR Most successful businessmen tend to start small and build from there, and Hastings was no exception. He worked at a small company known as Adaptive Technology after graduating from college.

10

NETFLIX