The Power of Small Teams: Lessons from Pocket and Mori Hiroshi

The Power of Small Teams: Lessons from Pocket and Mori Hiroshi

In the world of business and creativity, the size of a team is often associated with the scale of its impact. More people means more resources, more ideas, and potentially more success. However, there are instances where small teams have defied this notion and achieved remarkable results. Pocket, the popular app for saving articles and videos to read or watch later, is a perfect example of this.

When Pocket was still in its early days, it caught the attention of Evernote, a company that was interested in acquiring it. At that time, Evernote had a team of around 60 people, which seemed enormous to Nate Weiner, the founder of Pocket. He couldn't understand how so many people were needed to work on a project like Pocket, which could be managed by just one person. This realization led him to a fundamental insight: the more people you add to a team, the easier it becomes to lose focus on what truly matters.

With a smaller team, it is much harder to stray from the essential tasks at hand. The limited resources force the team to prioritize and concentrate on what is critically important. This razor focus is key to the success of a small team. Weiner understood this, and it allowed him to keep Pocket's culture concentrated during its formative years.

Culture is often seen as a fuzzy concept, but in reality, it is a reflection of the founder's personality traits. Weiner's vision for Pocket was built on trust, scrappiness, and ownership. These values were ingrained in the company's DNA, and they were able to permeate the entire team more easily because of its small size. In contrast, larger teams often struggle to maintain a cohesive culture as hierarchies and complex dynamics can dilute the shared values.

The analogy of stews and salads can be applied to company culture as well. Starting with a few choice ingredients allows the flavors to meld together and create a distinct taste. Similarly, a small team can bond more quickly and establish a common world view without the barriers of complex hierarchies. This shared perspective fosters collaboration and ensures that everyone is working towards the same goals.

Another advantage of being a small team is the ability to involve people outside of the organization. Pocket's team embraces the philosophy of simplicity and asks themselves how they can make things easier for everyone involved. By not reinventing the wheel and focusing on improving what already exists, they make it more accessible to others. This approach builds bridges and creates a sense of community around Pocket, extending its impact beyond its immediate team.

In the world of creativity, the concept of "not knowing" plays a crucial role. Renowned Japanese novelist Mori Hiroshi once said, "To be an artist means being able to hold onto things that you don't understand." In order to create something truly original, one must have a reservoir of "unknowable" things within themselves. This emptiness is not a lack, but rather a space that can be filled with external stimuli and transformed into something tangible.

Artistic creation is, in essence, a process of converting the abstract into the concrete. It is the act of taking the intangible and giving it form. This process is driven by the motivation to bring something abstract to life. It is the ability to work with "unknowable" things and transform them into meaningful expressions that sets artists apart.

The common thread between Pocket's success and Mori Hiroshi's insights is the value of simplicity and focus. Both emphasize the importance of distilling complex ideas and concepts into their simplest form. By doing so, they make it easier for others to understand and engage with their creations.

So, what can we learn from Pocket's journey and Mori Hiroshi's wisdom? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

• 1. Embrace the power of simplicity: In a world filled with complexity, simplicity stands out. Focus on what truly matters and avoid getting caught up in unnecessary complexities. By making things simpler for others, you create a stronger connection and increase the likelihood of success.

• 2. Cultivate a shared vision: Building a strong team culture requires a shared vision and values. Start with a few core principles and let them guide your decision-making. A small team can bond more quickly and establish a common world view, which leads to better collaboration and more impactful outcomes.

• 3. Embrace the unknown: Creativity thrives in the realm of the unknown. Don't be afraid to explore and embrace the things that you don't understand. This openness allows for new ideas and perspectives to emerge, leading to fresh and innovative solutions.

In conclusion, the size of a team does not always determine its impact. Pocket's success with a small team and Mori Hiroshi's insights into artistic creation remind us of the power of simplicity, focus, and embracing the unknown. By applying these principles to our own endeavors, we can achieve remarkable results and make a lasting impact.