Work on Stuff that Matters: First Principles

Highlighted by williamdoust

I'm a strong believer in the social value of business done right. We need to build an economy in which the important things are paid for in self-sustaining ways rather than as charities to be funded out of the goodness of our hearts.

Highlighted by allgood2

on 2009-01-12 by allgood2

Nonprofit, especially when like businesses—done right, can and are a vital contribution to a growing economy. Though the value of social enterprise is great, and nonprofits can be a large part of that process.

First off, though, I want to make clear that "work on stuff that matters" does not mean focusing on non-profit work, "causes, or any other form of "do-goodism." Non-profit projects often do matter a great deal, and people with tech skills can make important contributions, but it's essential to get beyond that narrow box. I'm a strong believer in the social value of business done right. We need to build an economy in which the important things are paid for in self-sustaining ways rather than as charities to be funded out of the goodness of our hearts.

Highlighted by takuya514

I'm a strong believer in the social value of business done right. We need to build an economy in which the important things are paid for in self-sustaining ways rather than as charities to be funded out of the goodness of our hearts.

Highlighted by naturegeek

Work on something that matters to you more than money.

Highlighted by whertha

Work on something that matters to you more than money.

Highlighted by leleonb

It's easy to get caught up in the heady buzz of making money. You should regard money as fuel for what you really want to do, not as a goal in and of itself. Money is like gas in the car -- you need to pay attention or you'll end up on the side of the road -- but a well-lived life is not a tour of gas stations!

Highlighted by johnmon

Don't be afraid to think big. Business author Jim Collins says that great companies have " big hairy audacious goals." Google's motto, "access to all the world's information" is an example of such a goal.

Highlighted by allgood2

Don't be afraid to fail.

Highlighted by allgood2

Don't be afraid to think big. Business author Jim Collins says that great companies have " big hairy audacious goals." Google's motto, "access to all the world's information" is an example of such a goal. I like to think that my own company's mission, "changing the world by sharing the knowledge of innovators," is also such a goal.

Highlighted by takuya514

Don't be afraid to think big. Business author Jim Collins says that great companies have " big hairy audacious goals." Google's motto, "access to all the world's information" is an example of such a goal. I like to think that my own company's mission, "changing the world by sharing the knowledge of innovators," is also such a goal.

Highlighted by johnmon

What we fight with is so small, and when we win, it makes us small. What we want is to be defeated, decisively, by successively greater things."

Highlighted by johnmon

"What we fight with is so small, and when we win, it makes us small. What we want is to be defeated, decisively, by successively greater things."

Highlighted by bobbyliu

One test of a bubble is how many entrepreneurs are focused on their upcoming payday rather than on the big things they hope to accomplish. Me-too products are almost always payday-focused; the entrepreneurs who first made the market often had much less expectation of easy success, and were instead wrestling, like Jacob with the angel, with a hard problem that they thought they could solve, or at the very least make a dent on.

Highlighted by takuya514

Create more value than you capture.

Highlighted by whertha

The most successful companies treat success as a byproduct of achieving their real goal, which is always something bigger and more important than they are.

Highlighted by johnmon

The most successful companies treat success as a byproduct of achieving their real goal

Highlighted by bobbyliu

For example, a bank that loans money to a small business sees that business grow, perhaps borrow more money, hire employees who make deposits and take out loans, and so on. The power of this cycle to lift people out of poverty has been demonstrated by microfinance institutions like the Grameen Bank.

Highlighted by dcorking

on 2009-03-21 by dcorking

It is hard to choose a sentence to highlight from this inspirational yet non-ideological article. Thanks, Tim!

Create more value than you capture.

Highlighted by leleonb

Through his industry and vision, he makes an entire region prosperous, so that "there was no pocket so obscure that it had not a little money in it; no dwelling so lowly that there was not some little joy within it."

Highlighted by johnmon

It's a matter of balance. Every business needs to pay attention to its bottom line; every individual needs to put a roof over his or her head and provide food for loved ones. But take a look inside: how much are you thinking about yourself and what you might gain, versus what you might create?

Highlighted by allgood2

how much are you thinking about yourself and what you might gain, versus what you might create?

Highlighted by johnmon

Take the long view.

Highlighted by leleonb

Work on Stuff that Matters: First Principles - O'Reilly Radar

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