A bunch of random thoughts on startups and marketing:
1. Don't let the process get in the way
Great ideas don’t come from processes – they come from people. Most marketing orgs are built to manage – not to imagine. Too much process and management can get in the way of creative thinking. Efficiency is great. But in my experience, I would rather focus on originality and creativity than optimization.
2. The best people require autonomy
Creative people are allergic to control. They don't want to be told what to do or how to do it. And this is the challenge when it comes to business... because business is all about control, growth, and predictability. Organizations like organization. Creative people like chaos. Business wants conformity. But conformity and tightly controlled environments REPEL the people you need most. The most talented people want freedom. And so it's super important when you are building a team to figure out how to balance all of this. This is why hiring the right people and creating the right culture may be the most challenging parts of building a startup.
3. "It's better to be a pirate than to join the Navy."
—Steve Jobs, 1982
—Steve Jobs, 1982
Big companies are boring and slow. Successful startups require people who can move fast. You need to create a pirate culture that celebrates dissent against bureaucracy/process and unconventional thinking. Most importantly, avoid hierarchies at all cost! Small teams that move fast are the way you win. Speed over structure! Creativity over control!