After nearly two decades of corporate experience spanning seed stage startup to Fortune 500, I’ve slowly built a list of rules to live by at work. They’re pretty obvious, but that’s ok – most good ideas are. I’d like to think they help keep work more straightforward, less wasteful, and probably a lot more pleasant. I guess time will tell.
Let’s get started:
1. If the revenue opportunity is smaller than the C&B in the room, cancel the meeting
Time is the most expensive resource you have. Don’t waste it. Work on stuff that makes an impact.
2. Know when change is wanted
If you walk into a situation where change is unwanted, don’t expect to get much done quickly. Before you push for transformation, make sure the system is ready for it.
3. Things should be painless
Don’t be painful to work with. Life is too short. If you’re going to create pain for someone, that someone should probably be you.
4. If you want to add a process, first remove an existing one
Individually, every process might seem reasonable. Collectively, they can suffocate a company. Process debt is as real as technical debt. Clean up before you add more.
5. When you’re done with the agenda, end the meeting
Nobody gets extra credit for running long and pulling a “while I have you all…” is not respectful to people’s time.
6. Treat adults like adults
If you infantilize them, don’t be surprised when they respond immaturely.
7. Write it down
If it’s not written down, it’s probably either being done poorly, or worse: not happening at all.
8. The difference between a product and a project is that “Product is Forever”
Those lines of code aren’t going to support themselves. Your investment in staffing should be proportional to the expected impact of the roadmap and the ongoing effort to sustain it.
9. If you can’t explain it easily, it’s probably a bad idea, or worse: you’re hiding something
Complexity isn’t a sign of intelligence. It’s camouflage. What are you hiding?
10. You can’t prove the success of something you won’t measure
Give each initiative a success metric. Otherwise people might be left wondering if it was all just busy work.
You have to earn the right to the fancy stuff by getting the basics right first.