Making something new means breaking something else
lessons from breaking things
Shortly after moving to Denver in 2012, I was fortunate enough to catch a Mumford and Sons show at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre. While the band put on a solid performance, it was their opening act that struck a much bigger chord with me.
As the lights on the stage came into focus and musicians started to walk out, the crowd cheered for the music they had come to enjoy. I hadn’t noticed who the opening act was. When the band members of Dawes introduced themselves, I became optimistic.
In their set on that cold and windy mountain night, they played one of their hit songs, When My Time Comes. I was mesmerized from beginning to end. But somewhere in the middle of the song, they sang the following line.
“And now the only piece of advice that continues to help is anyone that’s making anything new only breaks something else.“
Incredible line. Powerful line. One that I still think about today in many contexts, including building the best business I possibly can.
We should all think bigger. And then execute upon the biggest possible plan. The weird part about this constantly evolving and growing exercise is that it ALWAYS means you break something to build something new.
Here’s some lessons from things I’ve broken while forging something better and bigger.
1. You can blame anyone, although it’s probably your fault.
As CEO, my responsibilities to our customers, team, and investors need to be clear. Without clarity, we cannot and will not build a big business. One lesson learned as we went through growing pains over the past year is that we are all our own worst enemy. It’s hard to accept at times, but you must.
2. Be weary of those who promote economic growth with their agenda, who are not on the battlefield with you.
Many organizations consider it a success when the topic is growth—from team to footprint. It boasts reporting numbers that are more often than not, vanity metrics. Their assumption that you’re hiring for who you need or expanding at the right time can be costly and deadly. No one knows better than you—the founder—for what you NEED to hire for, when.
3. When you know something is failing, kill it.
One of the best things a founder can do is to be coachable from mentors who are at a place in life they want to be. We’ve had to kill many things that were failing in our business. Do what you must to survive. Inefficient processes need brought back to basics. Inefficient positions need cut immediately.
4. Referees and boxers. Only one of these has the chance to fight for something to exist.
When building, you meet A LOT of referees (theorists, rule makers). If you walk into a room and there are more referees than boxers, things will move too slowly. This is one of my biggest fears for my startup community right now. More people need to take the chance and leave behind the rules and refereeing, to learn—albeit the hard way—what it’s actually like to fight.
5. Customers should expect the best from us, at all times.
There are zero excuses for not satisfying a customer. If you disagree, please see #1 above. And never forget that customers are the judge, jury, and executioner of your business. You can never spend enough time with them.
6. The winners in the coming years will have fought unfairly.
To survive, you’ll cut costs to the bone—and then a little more. You’ll think more like a pirate than a businessperson. Your JOMO will be front and center, as FOMO fades away. People will consider it rude that you no longer make time for them. And Things will break.
But don’t forget that just means you’re building something new.
New to the world and its history.