How A Quiet Developer Built Goodreads.com Into Book Community Of 2.6+ Million Members - with Otis Chandler - Business Podcast for Startups

How A Quiet Developer Built Goodreads.com Into Book Community Of 2.6+ Million Members - with Otis Chandler - Business Podcast for Startups

Procrastination is often seen as a negative trait, but what if there was a way to use it to your advantage? According to Paul Graham, there are three types of procrastination: doing nothing, doing something less important, and doing something more important. The last type, he argues, is actually good procrastination. This is when you put off working on small tasks to focus on the bigger, more important projects.

In the case of Otis Chandler, the founder of Goodreads.com, this type of procrastination played a crucial role in the success of his startup. Before getting any outside funding, Chandler built Goodreads up to 650,000 members by focusing on the big picture. He knew that working on small, insignificant tasks would not bring him closer to his goal of creating a thriving book community. Instead, he prioritized the important tasks that would have a lasting impact.

One of the reasons why startups are most productive in the beginning stages is because there are no interruptions. Chandler experienced this firsthand when he started Goodreads with just a small team in an apartment. Without the distractions of meetings, emails, and other small tasks, they were able to focus solely on the big projects that would propel their business forward.

But why do so many people fail to work on the big projects that truly matter? One reason is the lack of immediate reward. When you work on something significant, the payoff may not come for a long time. This can be discouraging and lead to procrastination. Another reason is the fear of wasting time. Big projects require a significant investment of time and effort, and there is always the risk of failure. However, as Chandler points out, the biggest breakthroughs often come from tackling these big problems.

So how can you overcome the tendency to procrastinate on important tasks? Graham suggests approaching them obliquely. Rather than facing the big problem head-on, adjust your angle slightly. You want to be facing it directly enough to feel the excitement radiating from it, but not so much that it paralyzes you. It's about finding the right balance between fear and excitement.

Chandler's approach to tackling big projects was to start small. He focused on building a platform where people could share what they were reading and connect with others who had similar interests. By starting with this smaller goal, he was able to gain momentum and eventually build a community of over 2.6 million members. It's about tricking yourself into doing the work by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable tasks.

In addition to starting small, Chandler also emphasized the importance of listening to users and prioritizing their needs. Goodreads became successful because it provided a platform for book lovers to connect and share their thoughts. Chandler and his team actively listened to user feedback and made improvements based on their suggestions. This not only increased user engagement but also helped attract more users through word-of-mouth recommendations.

Based on Chandler's experience, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Start small: Break down big projects into smaller, more manageable tasks to gain momentum and overcome the fear of failure.

2. Listen to users: Pay attention to user feedback and make improvements based on their suggestions. This will not only increase user engagement but also attract new users through positive word-of-mouth.

3. Prioritize the important: Focus on the tasks that will have a lasting impact and bring you closer to your goals. Avoid getting caught up in small, insignificant tasks that won't contribute to your success.

In conclusion, procrastination doesn't have to be seen as a negative trait. By harnessing the power of good procrastination, you can prioritize the important tasks and work towards achieving your goals. Start small, listen to users, and prioritize the tasks that truly matter. With these strategies in place, you can build something remarkable, just like Otis Chandler did with Goodreads.com.