#business #startup Created at 080323 # [Anonymous feedback](https://www.admonymous.co/louis030195) # [[Epistemic status]] #shower-thought Last modified date: 080323 Commit: 0 # Related - [[Personal growth/My learning from entrepreneur scientists houses]] - [[Business/Entrepreneurship/Product design]] - [[Business/Build the thing right vs build the right thing]] - [[Philosophy/Humans/Skeuomorph]] # TODO > [!TODO] TODO # Do things that dont scale In his essay "Do Things That Don't Scale," Paul Graham emphasizes the importance of focusing on actions that have an immediate, tangible impact on one's business instead of obsessing over scalability. Graham argues that startups tend to fixate on scaling as quickly as possible, which can lead to neglecting valuable opportunities to build a loyal customer base and refine one's products or services. By concentrating on actions that don't necessarily lead to growth in the short term, startups can create a strong foundation that enables them to grow sustainably over time. Graham's message provides an essential reminder that sometimes, the most effective strategies for success involve focusing on the present moment rather than the distant future.  An analogy for this approach could be building a house. Instead of obsessing over how many stories it will have or how many rooms it will contain, one should focus on laying a strong foundation and ensuring that the structure is well-built and sturdy. This way, the house will be able to withstand the test of time and provide a reliable, comfortable living space for years to come. Scaling too quickly without paying attention to the foundation could result in a poorly constructed house that collapses under pressure. Similarly, startups that prioritize growth over sustainability may experience rapid success initially but falter in the long run if they neglect their customers or fail to refine their products.