Post

The common wisdom in Silicon Valley is that if it’s not unique, it’s not worth doing. This is logical because: • The world doesn't need another copy of everything. AI further proves that. • You have no basis for competitive advantage, neither temporary nor permanent. (1/6)

But what that perspective leaves out is that “competitive advantage” or “shareholder value” or even “getting rich” isn’t always the goal of entrepreneurship. It’s interesting when it is, but often it isn’t. Indeed, 𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 it isn’t. (2/6)

Sure more money is better, and certainly low profits or shrinking businesses are bad. But they’re bad because the personal goal is slipping away, not because of “shareholder value.” (4/6)

This is why it makes sense for small business owners to work 11 hours a day for the same take-home money as the job they left. This is why it makes sense to make “yet another” design firm or restaurant or car wash or productivity app or time-tracking app or AI-whatever. (5/6)

Not because it results in a big company, but because it results in fulfilled people doing work they are proud of, and customers thrilled to receive that sort of experience. We should celebrate that too. (6/6)