The reason startup founders can safely be nice is that making great things is compounded, and rapacity isn't. So if you're a founder, here's a deal you can mak

The reason startup founders can safely be nice is that making great things is compounded, and rapacity isn't. So if you're a founder, here's a deal you can make with yourself that will both make you happy and make your company successful. Tell yourself you can be as nice as you want, so long as you work hard on your growth rate to compensate. Most successful startups make that tradeoff unconsciously. Maybe if you do it consciously you'll do it even better. This captures why I prefer Silicon Valley to Wall Street. In Wall Street the assumption is zero sum - one dollar either goes to me or you, but not both. In Silicon Valley there is the illusion that you, your employees and your customer can all win. Whether this is true or not, it makes for a healthier work environment, and PG helps explain why it is true for startups. (Nobody at Wall Street grows 5% a week)