Paul Graham

Principles are our summary of their public statements.

• Use external promises as motivation

  Focus

  One can maintain ambition by making promises to others that force the completion of difficult projects.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Having Kids  (opens in a new tab)

• Seek an edge before starting

  Strategy

  Do not attack a topic unless there is a unique insight or a specific gap to explore. Having questions about things others take for granted is a valid competitive edge.

  Supporting quotes

  • “A good essay has to be surprising. It has to tell people something they don't already know.”

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

• Reject Passivity

  Resilience

  Success comes from having your way with the world rather than letting circumstances dictate your actions.

  Supporting quotes

  • “To be hapless is to be battered by circumstances - to let the world have its way with you, instead of having your way with the world.”

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

• Concentrate Talent to Create Meccas

  Strategy

  A startup hub requires a high concentration of elite talent in one place rather than spreading them out evenly across many institutions.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Imaginative people don't want to follow or lead. They're most productive when everyone gets to do what they want.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Avoid Restrictive Funding Terms

  Fundraising

  Imposing rules that force founders to act against their interests only attracts low-quality, desperate startups.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Can You Buy a Silicon Valley? Maybe.  (opens in a new tab)

• Prioritize Substance Over Formality

  Strategy

  Delivering solutions informally saves effort and prevents self-deception. Focus on solving the real problem rather than trying to look impressive or corporate.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Though simple solutions are better, they don't seem as impressive as complex ones. Overlooked problems are by definition problems that most people think don't matter.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Prioritize intellectual humility

  Hiring

  Identify truly smart people by their willingness to admit ignorance rather than those who try to appear smart by acting like know-it-alls.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source How to Start a Startup  (opens in a new tab)

• Benevolence is a competitive advantage

  Strategy

  Founders driven by a desire to improve the world are more likely to persist through challenges and build things that attract the best talent.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Startups don't win by attacking. They win by transcending. There are exceptions of course, but usually the way to win is to race ahead, not to stop and fight.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Build rather than capture

  Creativity

  In the modern economy, success comes from creating new things and having new ideas rather than fighting over existing scarce resources.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Startups don't win by attacking. They win by transcending. There are exceptions of course, but usually the way to win is to race ahead, not to stop and fight.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Value speed and flexibility

  Strategy

  Super-angels and modern investors who make quick decisions without demanding board seats offer founders more agility and control.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source The New Funding Landscape  (opens in a new tab)

• Launch a minimal version quickly

  Product

  A first version of a product should be simple enough to build in a few weeks, focusing on core utility rather than complexity.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source The Reddits  (opens in a new tab)

• Maintain Flexibility in Planning

  Strategy

  In a rapidly accelerating world, rigid long-term plans are a liability; it is better to focus on learning and increasing options.

  Supporting quotes

  • “The best thing software can be is easy, but the way to do this is to get the defaults right, not to limit users' choices.”

    “A programming language is for thinking of programs, not for expressing programs you've already thought of.”

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

• Sell Yourself Actively

  Sales

  Do not assume evaluators will dig deep to find your value; take responsibility for making your strengths obvious and easy to see.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source Two Kinds of Judgement  (opens in a new tab)

• Solve hard technical problems

  Strategy

  Startups gain an edge by being small, fast, and tackling difficult technical challenges that large corporations cannot handle efficiently.

  1 more supporting quote is in the member records.

  Source How to Make Wealth  (opens in a new tab)

• Identify physical objects for ephemeralization

  Finding ideas

  Look for specialized physical tools that can be replaced by software applications on general-purpose devices.

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Tablets  (opens in a new tab)

• Design for Intellectual Curiosity

  Product

  Content should be judged by its ability to engage intellectual curiosity rather than just being on-topic or easy to consume.

  Supporting quotes

  • “The key to performance is elegance, not battalions of special cases. and look for the bottleneck I can remove with least code.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Distinguish Excellence from Flaws

  Creativity

  When imitating a successful model, ensure you are copying the core strengths rather than the superficial defects or historical accidents.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Copy What You Like  (opens in a new tab)

• Follow curiosity over returns

  Creativity

  The best way to find meaningful topics is to notice something new and investigate it deeply rather than trying to calculate market returns.

  Supporting quotes

  • “It's not an essay otherwise, because an essay is something you write to figure something out.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

• Avoid the bargain trap

  Decisions

  The value of an acquisition is not the money saved from the retail price, but the actual use derived from it. Buying something just because it is cheap is a net loss if it is not used.

  3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.

  Source Stuff  (opens in a new tab)

• Focus on Data Mobility

  Strategy

  Users value the ability to access their data from any device rather than being tied to a specific piece of hardware.

  Supporting quotes

  • “Most people, most of the time, will take whatever choice requires least work. If Web-based software wins, it will be because it's more convenient.”

  2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.