The Power of Doing Things that Don't Scale and Embracing Japan's Traditional Values

The Power of Doing Things that Don't Scale and Embracing Japan's Traditional Values

Introduction:
In the world of startups, there is a common mantra: "Do Things that Don't Scale." This approach emphasizes the importance of founders taking the initiative and manually recruiting users at the beginning stages of their venture. While this may seem counterintuitive, it is a crucial step in achieving long-term success. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this strategy and connect it with the concept of "明浄正直" (meijōseijiki), a traditional Japanese value system. By understanding the power of compound growth and embracing Japan's rich philosophical heritage, founders can pave the way for their startup's success.

Recruiting Users Manually:
Startups often resist the idea of manually recruiting users due to a combination of shyness and laziness. Founders may underestimate the impact of this hands-on approach, as the absolute numbers initially seem small. However, the power of compound growth cannot be underestimated. By actively going out and getting users instead of waiting for them to come, founders can lay the foundation for their startup's growth.

Fragility of Startups:
It is important to recognize that almost all startups are fragile in their early stages. This is a common misconception among inexperienced founders, investors, and even media outlets. While it may be disheartening if investors dismiss your startup, it is crucial not to dismiss it yourself. Instead of focusing on taking over the world, the key question to ask is, "How big could this company get if the founders did the right things?" By maintaining a long-term perspective and focusing on growth, founders can overcome the challenges they may face.

Building for Your Peers:
One effective way to recruit users manually is by building something to solve your own problems. This narrows down your target audience to your peers, making user acquisition a more straightforward process. Ben Silbermann, the founder of Pinterest, recognized this when he noticed that many early Pinterest users were interested in design. He attended a conference of design bloggers to recruit users, which turned out to be a successful strategy.

Delivering an Insanely Great User Experience:
When starting with an early, incomplete, and possibly buggy product, founders can still provide users with an insanely great experience through attentiveness. It is not just about the product itself but also about the overall user experience. By engaging directly with early users, founders can gain invaluable feedback and continuously improve their offering.

Finding a Critical Mass of Users:
It is worth considering if there is a subset of the market in which you can quickly gain a critical mass of users. By identifying a niche that aligns with your product or service, you can establish a strong foothold and build from there. This initial market can provide the momentum needed to attract a broader audience.

Automating Processes Gradually:
In the early stages, founders can often get away with performing tasks manually that they plan to automate later. This allows for a faster launch, and the experience gained from doing these tasks manually will inform the development of automated systems in the future. This muscle memory ensures that the automation process is efficient and tailored to the specific needs of the startup.

Avoiding the Pitfall of "Big Launches":
One tactic that often proves ineffective is relying on a big launch to attract users. Founders may believe that the greatness of their product alone will generate widespread interest. However, this approach overlooks the effort required to recruit users individually. It is important to remember that extraordinary results require extraordinary efforts.

Embracing Japan's Traditional Values:
In discussing the power of doing things that don't scale, it is interesting to connect this concept with Japan's traditional values. Japan, located at the eastern edge of the Eurasian continent, has been a hub for the accumulation of various philosophies and ideologies, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Zen, and Shintoism. By leveraging these philosophical foundations, startups can tap into a unique approach to business and management.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the power of doing things that don't scale cannot be underestimated for startups. By manually recruiting users, founders lay the groundwork for long-term growth. Additionally, by embracing Japan's traditional values and rich philosophical heritage, founders can find unique insights and approaches to business. To summarize, here are three actionable pieces of advice for founders: 1) Embrace the power of compound growth by personally recruiting users, 2) Provide an insanely great user experience, even with an imperfect product, and 3) Identify a subset of the market where you can quickly gain a critical mass of users. By following these strategies, founders can set their startups on a path to success.