On building of All Trades
Scaling a company where everyone enjoys their work
Although we are convinced that the decision maker framework is the most efficient and productive way to run a company, this isn’t necessarily the root of this change. At the very heart lies the idea of giving people control. Dennis Bakke writes that:
Although we are convinced that the decision maker framework is the most efficient and productive way to run a company, this isn’t necessarily the root of this change. At the very heart lies the idea of giving people control. Dennis Bakke writes that:
“Only if we’re in control, we can have fun doing... See more
Leo Widrich • 24 People, No Managers: Buffer's "Decision Maker" Experiment
I didn’t even announce the opening of the store until we opened—I declined the few press requests I received and didn’t really talk about it publicly. I can’t totally explain it, but I felt (feel?) protective of this little store like it was a person. It had to actually become something before I could say what it was. I wanted to let it cultivate... See more
Alison Roman • I Opened A Grocery Store
I wish when I was at my previous startups I had focused more on building and less on winning. Sure, I may not have done exactly what I had thought I wanted, but finding ways to love the process would’ve allowed for better outcomes anyway. What we want is such an abstract idea, built on a foundation of shifting sand, that it is pointless to try to... See more
Evan Armstrong • The Futility of Utility
"Today’s “best practices” lead to dead ends; the best paths are new and untried."
Peter Thiel • Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
A company is built on details, not frameworks. It is all the little things, the small touches of craft and culture, that determines that long-term success of an organization. A solo founder will be able to build a small product that is a manifestation of their taste. And, if it turns out that the opportunity is huge, they should probably hire... See more
The One-person Billion-dollar Company
So much of building something new is showing others that their problem deserves to be solved, that they should be seen for who they are and what they want to be. Generalists deserve better.
Instead of doing broad but thin market research (e.g., customer surveys), focus on one person (or a small group) and go as deep as you can, learning everything about how your product fits into their broader lives. Or become your customer—spend a day, a month, or even a few years in the role you're trying to sell to before attempting to build a... See more
Casey Rosengren • The Power of Designing for a Single User
The arrogance of improvement
Who are you to make things better?
How dare you raise your hand to help, offer an idea, take responsibility...
Perhaps it might be helpful to reframe that feeling as the generosity of improvement instead.
If not you, who? If not now, when?
Who are you to make things better?
How dare you raise your hand to help, offer an idea, take responsibility...
Perhaps it might be helpful to reframe that feeling as the generosity of improvement instead.
If not you, who? If not now, when?
The arrogance of improvement
To find happiness in your career and life, embrace the philosophy of playing infinite games, where the goal is to keep playing rather than reach an end goal.