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About

JG

Joe Gebbia

06/07/17

@ Y Combinator

It's okay to do things that don't scale; stepping outside the myth of Silicon Valley can unleash creativity.

Video

YC

Scaling Product | Fireside with Joe Gebbia and Reid Hoffman

@ Y Combinator

Scaling Product | Fireside with Joe Gebbia and Reid Hoffman

06/07/17

Related Takeaways

YC

Y Combinator Cast

05/31/24

@ Y Combinator

Paul Graham's essay "Do Things That Don't Scale" transformed Silicon Valley's culture by encouraging startups to focus on immediate problems rather than theoretical scalability issues.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

05/31/24

@ Y Combinator

Doing things that don't scale allows startups to experiment, fail fast, and quickly test assumptions before investing significant time in product development.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

05/31/24

@ Y Combinator

The advice to do things that don't scale is counterintuitive but provides startups with a unique advantage over larger competitors by fostering deep customer understanding and rapid experimentation.

AW

Ashley Wong

09/18/18

@ Y Combinator

Paul Graham's essay 'Do Things That Don't Scale' emphasizes that in the early stages, founders often do crazy things to make their startups work.

RR

Robert Rodriguez

04/17/25

@ Lex Fridman

Living outside of Hollywood allows you to think outside the box and stumble upon innovations that you wouldn't consider if you were in LA.

JL

Jeff Lawson

05/24/25

@ a16z speedrun

In Silicon Valley, failure can happen, but if you act honorably and do your best, people will fund your next idea.

PG

Paul Graham

07/17/19

@ Y Combinator

Doing things that don't scale means engaging in handmade, artisanal efforts early on, even if you know you can't maintain them forever, because it helps you learn and grow your startup.

DC

Dalton Caldwell

05/10/19

@ Y Combinator

Sometimes, outsiders can see potential in areas where experts have given up, so if you have the technical skills to build a product, it's okay to take risks even if you're outside your comfort zone.

GA

Gustaf Alströmer

12/30/22

@ Y Combinator

Doing things that don't scale is crucial for early-stage startups because it helps founders engage directly with customers and understand their needs.