Startup Day Seattle: Keynote

“I'll likely post more later, but it was so refreshing to have #StartupDay kick off with a focus on the importance of mission over money. In this interview with Eric Ries (author of The Lean Startup and now Incorruptible) and Todd Bishop, Eric redefined profit as the "maximization of human flourishing." As Eric stated, "We treat mission like the dessert you get to have after eating your vegetables of being a serious business person." But I'd argue it's the whole meal.”

“The day opened with Todd Bishop (GeekWire) interviewing Eric Ries — author of The Lean Startup — on his new book, Incorruptible. His book's argument: profit is the maximization of human flourishing. That framing stopped me cold. Mine is on the way, and I can't wait to dig in.”

“Eric proposes building "mission-controlled" companies with strong "governance exoskeletons" to preserve values and reframe profit as human flourishing. In a time of value concentration, shitcoins and short-term corporate thinking, it's a timely message.”

“One thing Eric Ries said that stuck with me: On Lean Startup he told builders to change the world. But he left out 3 words: "for the better." His new book, Incorruptible, is about exactly that. How companies drift from their mission as they scale. And anything that lasts requires you to build ones that don't. For someone who spent 20 years inside systems optimized for shareholder value at all permissable legal costs... hearing him talk about building for human flourishing felt different.”