Act, Measure, and Learn

We believe that most great work comes from testing hypotheses and that gathering data is the best way to validate and iterate on ideas. In the face of uncertainty, we trust ourselves to act responsibly, even when we don't have explicit permission.[1] We embrace the mindset of "no blockers" and non-perfectionism.[2] Moreover, we believe that measuring work is the first step in improving it and that the earlier we can collect signal, the better. We believe in setting and communicating clear goals, but that we should prefer feedback to planning.

There are caveats to this principle. Decisions which are both consequential and difficult to revert require forethought.[3] In a letter to shareholders, Jeff Bezos described decisions as "one-way doors" and "two-way doors" and cautioned against one-size-fits-all thinking.[4] Our company is younger than his: when in doubt, we err on the side of action.

Do One Thing and Do It Well

We draw inspiration from the first principle of Unix philosophy: "Make each program do one thing well."[5][6] We believe that complex problems can be broken down and solved with simple and modular components.[7] Programming is no different in this regard from writing.[8]

This principle extends to how we work together. Just as a program should have a clear, focused purpose, so should we. Consider a computer processing tasks: I/O-bound tasks can be efficiently parallelized, but CPU-bound tasks require dedicated focus. Deep, meaningful work is like a CPU-bound task: it demands our undivided attention.

Invest in Leverage

We aim to invest in processes that lift our users and our team.[9] This includes processes like documentation and automation. We believe in explicit communication over hidden state: we strive to approach each other with curiosity and to encapsulate our learnings so that we may all benefit. By investing in tools and automation, we multiply the impact of each of our work. When we build systems that make each other more productive, we create compounding benefits.

Seek Truth

We show up each day to search for and embrace truth.[10] This is, in fact, the mission of any startup: to unearth something true about the world that is unrecognized. To do this, we have to stay connected to the users we serve and who serve as our source of truth. We have to leave our egos and biases at the door to let the best ideas win out. We have to have the courage to break from the mold and reason by first principles, rather than by analogy. And although we have to commit to the decisions we make, we have to be willing to revisit them no matter how much we believe in them.

Be Pragmatic

We have ambitious goals, but we believe in the power of small, approachable, and consistent steps. We strive to temper our idealism and be willing to work with existing systems to evoke change. Even these values are likely to evolve as the organization does. We have attempted to codify those we believe will best stand the test of time and are hopeful many will. Our motivation here, as well as everywhere else, is to be explicit about what we are while remaining willing to revisit the matter.[11]