Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter and Block (formerly Square), is known for his minimalist philosophy and profound insights on technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
On Entrepreneurship and Ideas
- "Everyone has an idea. But it's really about executing the idea and attracting other people to help you with the idea."[1][2][3]
- Learning: An idea's value lies in its execution and the ability to build a team around it.
- "The greatest lesson that I learned in all of this is that you have to start. Start now, start here, and start small. Keep it Simple."[2]
- Learning: Don't wait for the perfect moment or a grand plan. Begin with small, simple steps.
- "Success is never accidental."[2][3]
- Learning: Success is the result of deliberate effort, not luck.
- "You don't have to start from scratch to do something interesting."[1]
- Learning: Innovation can come from improving upon existing ideas.
- "A founder is not a job, it's a role, an attitude."[4]
- Learning: The entrepreneurial mindset is a continuous way of thinking and acting, not just a title.
- "Starting anything is a roller coaster with the highest highs and lowest lows."[2]
- Learning: Be prepared for the emotional volatility of building something new.
- "Build what you want to see in the world."[2]
- Learning: The most authentic and passionate creations come from a personal desire for their existence.
- "The strongest thing you can cultivate as an entrepreneur is to not rely on luck but cultivating an ability to recognize fortunate situations when they are occurring."[2]
- Learning: Proactive awareness is more powerful than passive hope.
- "Pick a movement, pick a revolution and join it."
- Learning: Align your work with a larger purpose to create significant impact.
- "I think the hardest thing to do is start."
- Learning: Overcoming inertia is the first and most critical step.
- "Great companies don't just have one founding moment. They have many founding moments."[5]
- Learning: A successful company continuously innovates and reinvents itself.
On Leadership and Management
- "Be a leader, not a decider."[6]
- Learning: A leader's role is to empower their team to make decisions, not to make all the decisions themselves.
- "If I have to make a decision, we have an organizational failure."[6][7]
- Learning: A healthy organization has empowered individuals at all levels who can make sound decisions.
- "Empower employees–and hold them accountable."[6]
- Learning: Trust your team with responsibility, but also expect them to deliver quality work.
- "Admit your weaknesses–and then overcome them."[6]
- Learning: Acknowledging vulnerabilities is the first step toward building strength and credibility.
- "It's empowering to be asked to look at what's possible, not told how to do it."[2][5]
- Learning: Foster creativity and ownership by giving your team the freedom to find their own solutions.
- "Your job as an executive is to edit, not write."[2]
- Learning: Leaders should refine and guide the work of their team, not micromanage the creation process.
- "An idea that can change the course of the company can come from anywhere."[2][5][8]
- Learning: Create an open environment where ideas from all levels of the organization are heard and valued.
- "I spend 90% of my time with people who don't report to me, which also allows for serendipity."[5]
- Learning: Unstructured interactions throughout the company can lead to unexpected and valuable insights.
- "Show, don't tell."[9]
- Learning: Demonstrate the value and potential of your ideas through action and prototypes rather than just words.
- "Foster transparency."
- Learning: Open communication and access to information build trust and a sense of shared purpose within a company.
- "Surround yourself with people who challenge your ideas."[9]
- Learning: Constructive dissent is crucial for refining ideas and avoiding groupthink.
On Simplicity and Design
- "Make every detail perfect and limit the number of details to perfect."[1][2][4]
- Learning: Focus on executing a few core features flawlessly rather than creating a multitude of mediocre ones.
- "It's really complex to make something simple."[2][4][8]
- Learning: True simplicity in design and function requires deep thought and effort.
- "My goal is to simplify complexity. I just want to build stuff that really simplifies our base human interaction."[2]
- Learning: Technology's highest purpose is to make fundamental human activities easier.
- "Constraints inspire creativity."[1]
- Learning: Limitations can force you to be more innovative and focused in your problem-solving.
- "Design is not just visual, design is efficiency. Design is making something simple."[10]
- Learning: Good design is about how something works, not just how it looks.
- "We get to design what we want to see in the world rather than doing what other people think should be done."[2]
- Learning: Be a creator of your own vision, not a follower of others' expectations.
- "Simplicity is a guiding principle for us."
- Learning: A core philosophy of simplicity should inform all aspects of a product and company.
- "Every detail is a new opportunity to delight our customers."
- Learning: Pay attention to the small things, as they contribute significantly to the overall user experience.
On Technology and The Future
- "Twitter is not a triumph of technology. It's a triumph of humanity."[1]
- Learning: The value of a platform is in the human connection and communication it enables.
- "The world is more transparent than ever. You can't hide behind a great brand anymore."[1]
- Learning: In the digital age, authenticity and ethical behavior are paramount for long-term success.
- "The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed."[1] (This quote is originally attributed to William Gibson but often cited by Dorsey).
- Learning: Be observant of emerging trends and technologies, as they often signal the direction of the future.
- "Technology to me does two things: it increases the velocity of communication and increases the number of people who can participate."[2]
- Learning: The core functions of technology are to speed up and democratize communication.
- "Twitter is about moving words. Square is about moving money."[4][5]
- Learning: Having a clear and concise mission for your product is essential.
- "I'm more of a curator. I'm a good editor."
- Learning: In a world of information overload, the ability to filter and highlight what's important is a valuable skill.
On Life and Personal Growth
- "Life is too short to be small."[1]
- Learning: Think big and pursue ambitious goals that have a meaningful impact.
- "Expect the unexpected. And whenever possible, be the unexpected."[1][3][4][8]
- Learning: Be adaptable and embrace unconventional thinking to create surprising and innovative outcomes.
- "Short term satisfaction will never lead to something timeless."[2]
- Learning: Focus on long-term value and impact rather than immediate gratification.
- "You can worry about the competition...or you can focus on what's ahead of you and drive fast."[4][8]
- Learning: Concentrate on your own path and progress rather than being distracted by what others are doing.
- "I really like any colony-based structure, where you have a strong dependence on a network...Aspen trees grow in groups. If one of them dies, they all suffer."[4]
- Learning: Interdependence and a strong community are vital for resilience and collective success.
- "Learn from serendipitous moments."[9]
- Learning: Be open to unexpected encounters and discoveries, as they can lead to valuable insights.
- "I think generally stress comes from things that are unexpected."
- Learning: Establishing routines and being prepared can help mitigate stress.
- "The only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks."
- Learning: Progress and innovation require a willingness to step into the unknown.
- "It's not about what you say, it's about what you do."[3]
- Learning: Actions are the true measure of your intentions and character.
- "Question every little thing."[8]
- Learning: A curious and inquisitive mind is essential for continuous learning and improvement.
- "Success is not a good teacher, failure makes you humble."
- Learning: Embrace failure as a learning opportunity that fosters humility and growth.
- "The power of Twitter is in the people using it."[1]
- Learning: The users and the community are the most valuable assets of any platform.
- "You have to be in control of your own destiny."[9]
- Learning: Take ownership of your life and career path.
- "When I believe in something I fight like hell for it."[11]
- Learning: Passion and perseverance are critical in turning your beliefs into reality.
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