This is a memo of how I work. Come back to this memo from time to time and re-read it.
I like to move fast and get things done. If we consistently move fast, and work on the right problems, the score will take care of itself.
"Well done is better than well said."
I enjoy working on the product. So expect me to spend most of my time on the product. I spent 80% of my career developing products. I am weak in other areas, such as marketing, sales, and G&A. I make up for it by reading a lot in these domains and working with people who are better than I am. So if I've asked you to work with me, it means you are better at these than I am, and I expect you to challenge my bad decisions. Sometimes I will be stubborn and push it through, and sometimes we have to disagree & commit. This goes the other way, too. If you strongly believe in something and I disagree, you can convince me to change my mind and commit. You will not see me say "I told you so," even if it does not work out.
I like working on hard, complicated things. So most of the time, things will not go as planned. As long as we can learn from it and move forward at the speed of light, things will work out.
I'm a big believer in AI. And I need you to become AI-first when working with me. Whenever you are solving a business problem, think about whether there is a way for AI to solve the problem.
- First, solve a problem with AI as an assistant. If it works, scale it with AI.
- Manage AIs rather than people.
- Be AI-native.
In businesses, you can take a simple idea seriously, repeat it, and keep compounding to achieve wonders. Compounding something that works is way better than a few lucky spikes. The real asymmetric return is in compounding.
I'm usually on the side of starting something new. And building the first momentum is always super hard! And it takes time and lots of energy to get something going.
You cannot NOT communicate. Tell me the bad news. That's where the opportunities are! Business is about solving problems. Keep solving the problems, and you succeed. Of course, you have to solve the right problems. Choose the right problem to solve and solve it quickly!
Be a high agency person - https://www.highagency.com/
You and I will work on complex things. Depending on the circumstances, ignore the advice here.
I like to work with people who like to win and achieve big things.
We are building something complicated. Expect lots of iterations and learnings.
First impression matters. During the first month, do whatever it takes to get things done quickly with high-quality bar. This will help you build momentum that sets you up for success in life.
You will work a lot. I like to accomplish things. I want to see you outgrow what you thought was possible. I want you to be the best-in-class in your domain. That takes a lot of work. Don't expect it to be easy. It will be rewarding. Don't wish for an easy life. Become a strong person.
I'm obsessed with three things. Product. Customers and Velocity.
Don't blindly follow best practices. Come up with your own best practices. Yes, you can learn from other companies or people, but you need to think from the first principles. Have your own thoughts.
Value simplicity. It's hard to make something simple.
Test, test, test.
Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. Spend less time planning and more time executing, learning, iterating, and keeping it better. Nimble execution, hardened by real-world testing, beats a slow, perfect plan every time.