Podcast 47:04 | Download | Spotify| Stitcher | iTunes
In this episode, Ian and Dan discuss the concept of doing things that don’t scale, inspired by Paul Graham’s influential article ‘Do Things That Don’t Scale.’ They explore the idea of taking risks and gambling in entrepreneurship, and how it relates to increasing one’s locus of control. The conversation covers various strategies for founders, including recruiting users manually, building something fragile, delighting users, focusing on experience, and niche marketing. In this conversation, Ian and Dan discuss Paul Graham’s article ‘Do Things That Don’t Scale’ and explore the principal themes and takeaways. They cover topics such as the idea of scaling, fabricating products yourself, consulting and acting as an anchor client, going manual and doing unscalable laborious tasks, the illusion of big launches and partnerships, vectors vs. scalars (ideas and execution), and the temptation to gamble and the importance of locus of control.
Dan & Ian’s Stuff:
Our book: Before the Exit “The DC”
DC Black
Global events
Hire remote talent
Find a remote job
Listen on YouTube
Follow on Instagram
@TropicalMBA
@AnythingIan
SHOW NOTES:
-
(00:00:47) Introduction and Waking Up Early
-
(00:01:58) The Concept of Taking Risks and Gambling
-
(00:03:52) Introduction to Paul Graham and Y Combinator
-
(00:05:37) The Importance of Doing Things That Don’t Scale
-
(00:10:00) Recruiting Users Manually
-
(00:12:48) Building Something Fragile
-
(00:20:48) Niche Marketing
-
(00:23:02) The Facebook and the Idea of Scaling
-
(00:24:53) Consulting and Acting as an Anchor Client
-
(00:27:17) Going Manual and Doing Unscalable Laborious Tasks
-
(00:30:08) The Illusion of Big Launches and Partnerships
-
(00:34:54) Vectors vs. Scalars: Ideas and Execution
-
(00:38:36) The Temptation to Gamble and the Importance of Locus of Control
LINKS:
Past guests on TMBA include Cal Newport, David Heinemeier Hannson, Seth Godin, Ricardo Semler, Noah Kagan, Rob Walling, Jay Clouse, Einar Vollset, Sam Dogan, Gino Wickam, James Clear, Jodie Cook, Mark Webster, Steph Smith, Taylor Pearson, Tommy Griffith, Justin Tan, Matt Gartland, Travis Jamison, Ayman Al-Abdullah, Tynan, Lucy Bella Simkins, Brian Balfour, Nick Huber, Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree, Jordan Gal
Additional episodes you might enjoy:
Three Phases to 1 Million in Revenue
Quiet Crypto, The Demand Question, and Difficult Decisions ft. Jordan Gal
“3 Million in Revenue is a Death Zone” – Financial Strategy with Greg Crabtree
Listening options:
Subscribe via iTunes.
Listen on Stitcher Radio.
Android users can grab our RSS feed here.
Right-click and “save file as” for direct download.
Or click here to get sent to the top of the page where the on-site player is.
Have comments about the show?
Do you have ideas for things you’d like Dan and Ian to discuss in future episodes?
You can email our producer Morgan at [email protected].
Thanks for listening to our show! We’ll be back next Thursday morning 8AM EST.
Cheers,
Dan & Ian