The Importance of Being Scale-able

I usually get what I value. This is why:

I usually get what I value. This is why:

The power of structure.

The software firm Basecamp has been around since 1999.

That is almost two decades of consistent growth.

The strategy of just focusing on one product (which in Basecamps case their project management software) Has allowed them to linearly grow for its entire lifespan.

Linear growth isn’t sexy, and the discipline required to refuse resources until you are ready doesn’t come easily, but it is sustainable.

I don’t think I’m qualified to do anything involving a professional career and I’m in no rush to be a successful businessman or employee at a high paying job. Why? Because I couldn’t handle the load and it doesn’t fit with my values.

I have gotten to the point where money doesn’t influence my emotions. I value getting experience as fast as possible over getting rich as fast as possible. So why would I quit working for my parents, trading a experience rich job for selling my soul to something like summer sales?

Besides I couldn't handle the load of massive wealth because I don’t currently understand the power of money yet.

I couldn’t handle the load of starting a business, because I don’t understand how to put an appropriate value on a product.

The thing is, my goals are too huge to be achieved in the next year or two because I simply do not have the intellectual infrastructure or framework to fall back on if everything goes wrong. This is because I want everything. The family life, the flexible career lifestyle and the ability to do whatever I want, when I want in the future. So I can’t go all gung ho and throw myself 100% into my work because I want to spend time with family and friends as well.

And I firmly believe that is possible, with the right structure. Naysayers hold you comments for the end…

Like Basecamp, slow linear growth over time leads to more leverage to your desired a outcome. David Heinemeier Hansson, founder and CTO of Basecamp said in a recent interview that when they first started out they decided that they only wanted to work 40 hours a week max — which in startup land is unheard of.

Then they just put their time in and slowly built a product that people would pay for. They were not interested in getting rich quick — so there wasn’t pressure to inject large amounts of time into their work. They weren't interested in having a big company, in fact, they did everything possible to avoid hiring until it is completely necessary. It takes time, but through natural linear growth and a bit of patience made it so they did become wealthy and currently do what they want, when they want. And in David’s case, moonlight as race car driver.

David stands on the right.

So on a personal level, I’m happy to take my time! I realize that it doesn’t take that much money to be happy, so I’m just going to put my head down, keep coding, writing, and generally creating — essentially honing my craft and becoming extremely valuable. I’m spending my free time patiently creating the intellectual infrastructure so that I have leverage in the future and by so doing becoming a product someone would pay for.

I’m going to learn about freelancing and start doing that as soon as possible to find my groove working with clients and doing my own finances. I’m searching for what software I can use to automate running a household and integrating my family life and work life by forgoing the “work/life balance” model for the “work/life integration” model.

So. How do I constantly get what I want?

I value things instead of wanting them.

Viktor Frankl said:

“We are pushed by drives but pulled by values”

I value being valuable, so it’s not that hard to to do. I just have to be productive and focused to feel self actualized. I value relationships so I put in 60% into every one I value and work hard to make sure I am open minded to others opinions. I value work so when I have to cover one of my employees shifts it isn’t a big deal because it ties into me wanting to be valuable. I value God, so I make room for him in my life. Having values gives you the energy to do what it takes because you are doing it for the right reasons. So if I value many things, I need to design my life to accommodate those things, and never settle. Personally I have a lot of values, more than most people! So it is going to take me some time to put everything in place, but I’m patient!

I pity the person who wants things. Things, or drives, that push them to do what it takes for the wrong reasons, and the things they do are pretty irrational. Overspending, overworking, and overextending are all results of people wanting more things. Like going into debt because you want to wear Gucci.

But I digress, this is a philosophical rabbit hole that will take many articles to explore.

So, do you stick to your values? Or are you driven by wants?

Thanks again for reading my rant! If you liked this post, please hit the heart down below to spread this idea, I’d appreciate it so much :)