Start a side project!

How Khan Academy was built

Author

Gorick Ng
October 21, 2025 • Read Time:8 minutes

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Gorick here. Each week, I share simple frameworks to demystify the unspoken rules of working and living smarter.

  • In edition #127, we’ll discuss what Khan Academy’s early days can teach us about pursuing a passion project.

PS: Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (no paywalls, although it may depend on your cookies):

  • “‘A highly scheduled life doesn’t serve us’: has living ‘intentionally’ gone too far?” (The Guardian)

  • “4 Science-Backed Habits That Could Help You Live Longer” (Time)

  • “Kids need soft skills in the age of AI, but what does this mean for schools?” (The Conversation)

But first, a quick word from today’s sponsor!

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THIS WEEK’S UNSPOKEN RULE
An insider’s tip

You should have a side hustle.

Why? Because it could…

  • …make you more promotable in your current job

  • …boost your skills, reputation, and confidence

  • …maybe even become the career of your dreams

What’s an “unspoken rule”? They’re the things that separate those who get ahead from those who stumble and don’t know why. You can learn more in my Wall Street Journal bestselling book here.

THIS WEEK’S CASE STUDY
A success story

You’ve probably heard of Khan Academy—the free online learning platform that offers lessons in nearly every academic subject.

But did you know its founder, Salman Khan, built it as a side project for years before quitting his day job?

In 2004, Salman “Sal” Khan was working full-time at a hedge fund when he started tutoring his cousin, Nadia, in math. There was just one problem: She was in New Orleans while he was in Boston. 

So, Khan used a tool called Yahoo Doodle and an old-fashioned phone call to help Nadia.

A screenshot of the Yahoo Doodle interface

Nadia’s grades improved and other family members began asking Khan for help. To keep up with demand, Khan started putting his math lessons on YouTube for them.

Sal Khan in 2014

But the video uploads, which he started doing in 2006, didn’t just help his family. Strangers started using Khan’s videos for homework help, too. “First time I smiled doing a derivative,” one viewer commented. “I actually got a natural high,” another added.

Khan continued to post on YouTube in his spare time. By 2009, armed with thousands of monthly viewers, Khan formalized his side project into a 501(c)3 nonprofit called Khan Academy—and quit his job to pursue it full-time.

Fast forward to 2025, and Khan Academy is known for being the free online learning resource for over 180 million users in over 190 countries.

THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE
A simple strategy 

  1. Find something in your day job that allows you to work on something meaningful on the side (and under a higher-up who could become a sponsor, defined here).

  • The most overlooked side hustle opportunities are ERGs (Employee Resource Groups), CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives, or some respected executive’s pet project (because so few people raise their hands).

  1. Find the person in charge and pitch yourself: 

  • “I love your mission of [X] and would love to pitch in. I have a background in [X] and have experience leading [X], which I hope can be an asset when it comes to [achieving specific goal].”

See you on Thursday for our AMA,

—Gorick

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Gorick Ng
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Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

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