Startups operate on the principle that you need to work with other people to get stuff done, but you also need to stay small enough so that you actually can. Positively defined, a startup is the largest group of people you can convince of a plan to build a different future. A new company’s most important strength is new thinking: even more important than nimbleness, small size affords space to think.
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
This passage has been top of mind for me as I search for my next challenge. It highlights the joy and the energy that comes with a startup. It also notes the tremendous pressure that comes with building a different future (much less convincing people that it is the right future to build).
“Nimble” is easy to throw around. It sounds good, but it requires significant energy in practice. Yet, when I think about those teams where I’ve found the most success and felt the greatest reward, nimbleness and agility were core to the team’s foundation. Solving hard problems requires a dogged pursuit of new ideas but it also requires the ability to discard concepts that were once deeply held.
Being nimble requires an elastic mind and a bias toward action, prioritizing progress over process.
It brushes aside the formulaic cycles that can come with some success.
It requires energy and a thoughtful outlook.
And, in the right environment, it returns more energy than it required.
I am actively looking to join a great team who understands this and who in turn are looking for a product leader that is passionate about user experience and building a different future. Here’s my LinkedIn profile if you’re interested in my background. Please reach out if you’d like to talk!