Cultural Principles

Our members are never done learning and always seek to improve themselves. They are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them. When faced with a problem, they try to understand the root causes, update their assumptions and mental models accordingly, then use their updated understanding to solve the problem in the best way.

Beyond personal privacy, our members don't have work-related secrets. They can talk to anyone about anything. Everything is assumed to be transparent. Also, we act honorably, even when no one is looking. One test we use is to ask whether we would be ashamed if our actions were made public—and avoid doing anything where the answer may be yes.

Our members strive to create a positive environment, making the workplace enjoyable and friendly to everyone. They are mindful of others and avoid making them feel uncomfortable unless needed for work. They also take initiatives that enhance teamwork and work ethic.

When giving feedback about ourselves, colleagues, and managers, our members seek to be as fair as possible, striking the balance between giving people credit for good things they do and highlighting any shortcomings that might harm the team or the company.

Some decisions are irreversible. A one-way door. We take them slow, careful, deliberate, and consult others. Other decisions are reversible. A two-way door. We take them quickly by individuals or small groups with high judgment. Many experiments are not worth extensive study, just try them out quickly, and fail fast.

Our members are owners. They think long term and don't sacrifice long-term value for short-term results. They act on behalf of the entire company, beyond just their own team. They never say "that's not my job". Despite setbacks, they rise to the occasion and never settle.

Our members consistently try to explore and innovate new things and then find ways to simplify. They are externally aware, look for new ideas from everywhere, and are not limited by "not invented here." As we do new things, we accept that we may be misunderstood for long periods of time.

Our members have relentlessly high standards — many people may think these standards are unreasonably high. They are continually raising the bar and drive their teams to deliver high quality products, services, and processes. They also lend a hand to their teammates to help them grow and deliver higher quality results.

Our members listen attentively, speak candidly, and argue objectively using evidence and data points. They are obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree. They are opinionated, have convictions and are tenacious. They do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion. The captain on that decision has the responsibility to welcome, understand and consider the different opinions, even if they don't agree. Once the informed captain makes a decision, we expect everyone—including those who disagreed—to commit and help make the outcome as successful as possible.

Accomplish more with less. Constraints breed resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention. There are no extra points for growing headcount, budget size, or fixed expense.

Our members are right a lot. They have strong judgment and good instincts. They seek diverse perspectives and work to disconfirm their beliefs. They understand the key inputs for their business and deliver them with the right quality and in a timely fashion.