The Power of Iteration and Obvious Advice in Success

The Power of Iteration and Obvious Advice in Success

In the world of entrepreneurship, sometimes the key to success lies in the ability to pivot and iterate. This was the case for Ben Silbermann, the co-founder of Pinterest. Silbermann's journey from his initial app called Tote to the now widely popular Pinterest platform was a result of his keen observation and understanding of people's tendencies.

Initially, Tote was an app that aimed to replace bulky catalogs and make shopping more convenient. However, it lacked a crucial element - an easy mobile payment system. This inconvenience threatened the very existence of the app. But Silbermann noticed something interesting. While Tote users weren't making purchases through the app, they were avidly saving and sharing their favorite items with friends. This reminded Silbermann of his childhood hobby of collecting insects and the joy of sharing his collection with others. He saw an opportunity in people's natural tendency to share their collections, and this led to the birth of Pinterest.

Silbermann's pitch to an investor, Cohen, was concise and impactful, capturing the essence of customers' needs. Cohen, recognizing the potential, immediately decided to invest. This highlights the importance of being able to communicate your ideas effectively, even in a short span of time. A crisp and succinct pitch can make all the difference in gaining the support and backing necessary for success.

Pinterest filled a gap in the market by offering people a visually appealing platform to display all their collections, not just limited to a single item like other existing sites. Silbermann's pivot from Tote to Pinterest was an iterative process, a direct outgrowth of the lessons he learned from his first business. This shows the power of learning from failures and adapting to meet unmet needs. Silbermann's ability to see the potential and seize the opportunity paved the way for Pinterest's remarkable success.

In a separate context, Scott H Young explores the concept of obvious advice and its significance in personal growth and success. He argues that even if advice seems obvious, it can still be incredibly valuable. Often, what makes advice appear obvious is that it aligns with our intuitions. However, our intuitions can be fuzzy, leading us to overlook or dismiss advice that could actually be beneficial.

Young emphasizes the importance of focusing on the basics. Knowledge is not always about discovering secrets but rather about understanding the fundamental principles that govern a particular field or endeavor. Sometimes, the most effective strategies are the ones that seem straightforward and simple. For example, James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, shared that one of the key factors in the success of his book was being a guest on over 200 podcasts in the first six months of its launch. While this may seem obvious, very few people actually take such proactive steps to promote their work.