People talk about Reid Hoffman as the philosopher of Silicon Valley. That’s by design. Before starting his career as an investor and master of social networks, he planned to be a "public intellectual." Hoffman says his philosophical training guides his business and investment strategies every day. On this episode of "Success! How I Did It," Hoffman spoke with Business Insider senior strategy reporter Richard Feloni about his 30-year friendship with his political opposite, Peter Thiel, and his love for playing board games.