Efficiency Is An Excuse To Not Do The Actual Work: Lessons from Scaling Pinterest

Efficiency Is An Excuse To Not Do The Actual Work: Lessons from Scaling Pinterest

Efficiency is often seen as a noble pursuit, both in engineering and in personal goals. However, it can also become a hindrance, an excuse to avoid doing the actual work. This concept of premature optimization is not only applicable to engineers but can also be detrimental to our progress in achieving our personal goals. It's important to remember that done is better than perfect and that taking action is the key to momentum and progress.

In scaling Pinterest, the team learned several valuable lessons that can be applied to various aspects of life. One of these lessons is the importance of measuring the right things. It's commonly said that what you measure, improves. While this is true, it's crucial to carefully choose what to measure to avoid wasting time and effort on the wrong initiatives. Pinterest shifted their focus from measuring monthly active users (MAUs) to increasing the number of new weekly active pinners, which are the people who use Pinterest to pin or repin something new on the site each week - Pinterest's core action. This strategic shift in measurement allowed them to align their efforts with the core value of their platform and ensure that they were driving meaningful engagement.

Another key lesson from Pinterest's scaling journey is the importance of organizational structure. Many execution problems stem from either having the wrong org structure or the wrong person in a particular role. As a company grows, it becomes essential to regularly assess and adjust the organizational structure to align with the company's strategy. An ill-fitting org structure acts as a tax on a company's ability to execute and hinders progress. While org changes can be challenging and disruptive, they are necessary for long-term success.

The loudest users, often the ones who complain the most and make feature requests, can be both a blessing and a curse. While their feedback is valuable, it's crucial to remember that building a product for the next hundred million users requires making decisions that may contradict the desires of a vocal minority. Users' preferences and demands can be subjective and may not align with the scalable solution that the majority of users will embrace. It's important to listen to user feedback and data but also to be prepared to make decisions that prioritize the long-term growth and success of the product.

Building every feature that users ask for may seem like the right approach, but it can lead to a highly engaged but small user base. It's important to carefully consider the impact and scalability of each feature before adding it. Data-driven decision-making and asking the right questions are essential in finding the scalable solutions that will resonate with the majority of users. It's crucial to focus on the "job-to-be-done" and create features that serve that purpose effectively.

As a product or company gains traction and becomes sticky, it's necessary to shift focus from building for existing users to building for the next hundred million users. This shift often requires taking calculated risks and potentially angering existing users. It takes leadership and a commitment to long-term goals to stay focused on first principles during moments of self-doubt within the organization. Remembering the exchange rate of five positive experiences to make up for a single negative experience highlights the importance of making decisions that prioritize the overall growth and success of the product.

In summary, efficiency should not be an excuse to avoid doing the actual work. Taking action and making progress is crucial for personal goals and company growth. Choosing the right metrics to measure, ensuring the correct organizational structure, listening to user feedback while prioritizing scalability, and focusing on long-term goals are all valuable lessons from the scaling journey of Pinterest. To apply these lessons in your own life or business, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Define the core value and purpose of your goals or product. Measure metrics that align with this core value to drive meaningful progress and engagement.

2. Regularly assess your organizational structure and make necessary changes to ensure alignment with your strategy and goals. Don't let an ill-fitting structure hinder your ability to execute.

3. Listen to user feedback and data, but be willing to make decisions that prioritize long-term growth and scalability. Building for the next hundred million users may require taking risks and potentially angering existing users, but it is crucial for sustained success.

Remember, efficiency is important, but it should never be an excuse to avoid doing the work that truly matters. Embrace progress, focus on the right metrics, adapt your organization as needed, and make decisions that prioritize long-term growth. By doing so, you can achieve your goals and scale your endeavors to new heights.