Business values
I recently read an article by the creator of Gumroad, Sahil Lavingia, discussing their work values and how this has influenced Gumroad’s journey (no pun intended). It made me think about what I want for my business as it grows, and what my own values and expectations are.
Like Lavingia, I believe in embracing the journey, rather than fixating on the destination. For me this means working on interesting projects with interesting people, making sure I/we enjoy the process itself and aren’t simply chasing outcomes.
Lavingia writes about ‘total freedom’, which for me looks something like ‘total flexibility’ in my/our work environment. Whether it's asynchronous communication, remote or in-person collaboration, working from coffee shops or during unconventional hours – I want to build a business that can accommodate whatever works best for everyone on an individual level.
But… I also realised that I do value in-person interactions for one thing: brainstorming.While some preparation can be done asynchronously online through platforms like Zoom or Teams, nothing compares to the energy and inspiration you get when creative people get together physically. In-person work must be considered, but I want brainstorming to be an activity everyone looks forward to, one that serves as a highlight of any project.
So, although it’s a work in progress, I’m starting to see my values - my brand values I guess- take shape. They might shift and change, and I’m certain there’ll be more, but at the moment they look something like:
- Enjoy the journey
- Interesting projects with interesting people
- Total flexibility
- Somethings work better in person
You can read Lavingia’s original article at https://sahillavingia.com/work