Three Degrees of Reid Hoffman

The February 6, 2012 issue of FORTUNE magazine contains a profile of Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn.  Some highlights:

Mr. Hoffman has a degree in symbolic systems from Stanford and a degree in philosophy from Oxford.

He owes his success to his ability to navigate the group of people he he calls his tribe.  He makes time for people because their ideas are interesting rather than potentially profitable.  He is quick to offer favors for friends.

Mr. Hoffman's ability to both grasp technology changes and connect on a deeply human level has made him one of Web 2.0's biggest winners.

In 2009, Mr. Hoffman joined venture firm Greylock, where he runs a seed fund and helps manage a portfolio of nearly 100 companies, including Groupon, Tumblr, and AirBnb.

He now has a new book, The Start-Up of You, in which he shares tips on building a great career.

Mr. Hoffman believes that the defining principle of the web's next innovation cycle is data.  "We are generating a massive amount," he says. "What are we inventing?" It's one of the first questions he asks everyone he meets.  The other is: "How can I help you?"