Why focus on success when you're starting a business

This article is medium CEO Ev Williams at the end of January 2014 to the internal staff of an open letter, published in October Medium Special collection medium internal articles inside medium on the column. The company referred to in the title is actually specifically medium, and you represent medium employees. In a broader sense this article applies to all startups and employees. Like medium's situation, a start-up is like a boat, too small to have the personal interests over the collective space, we must all together, strength to a place to reach the company and personal victory on the other side-because a proud, a loss.

This is a start-up. This is a somewhat heavy and confusing topic these days. I mean it's simple-our business is not sustainable. We have to do is not to grow or optimize something so simple, but to start from the beginning of the growth and the essence of the engine.

Our success is not guaranteed. In fact, statistically speaking, there is little likelihood. If the sentence has been abused, we are really united. There is no room for conceit, infighting or personal gain over the collective. As a matter of fact:

Your interests are the interests of everyone.

Although any company wants its own people to do so, startups are different. In a larger, already established organization, the fact that personal interests prevail is justified-this is the need to fame and control other people within. This may work as a "success" strategy, and it is often difficult for individuals to influence the success of the entire company. As a result, even selfish behavior is bad for the organization, but the overall impact is minimal. In large organizations, the net effect of priority on individual interests is beneficial to individuals, especially in the short term.

But you're working here (start-up Medium). This means: 1 you will affect the success of the entire company. 2 The company's success will be the most fundamental factor that affects your personal success (your career, income, and job happiness). The bad thing is, it means that if we fail, you have to find another job and your options will be penniless, and your resume will not impress anyone. In addition: You may regret that you should have lived another life. It's too bad.

On the bright side, helping a great company build any part of it (especially the awesome part) in the early stages can basically say that you've been successful. If you are Google's top 100th employees (and not too short time), then you not only resume scenery, make a lot of money, but also for learning and growth to create a great opportunity. Addition：

You can say without guilt that you helped millions of people and changed the world.

It's also possible here.

So this is your job: do whatever it takes to help Medium succeed and leave the individual behind.

I do not mean that you should sacrifice yourself, even if you are unhappy or unjustly treated. It's not really good for Medium, because it's the best thing for your company to stay healthy and happy and productive for a long time.

I mean you have to work hard to help others succeed, not to think about personal glory or "climb up". There is no such ladder in the boat. It's so small that all of us do one thing--paddle. If you're worried about the other people on the same boat, not the people on the other ships trying to beat us, then you're worried wrong.

Also, it would be great if you were a part of a group that was moving in one place. That's the best thing.

And, when you are in a boat, you can see who is desperately rowing, who is looking around. In small companies, it is easy to know who is making contributions, at least for a long time. So, in a properly used company, people who are less self, less complaining, and hard at work can get a reward for their reputation and status.

It's no problem to be ambitious, to be recognized, to impress colleagues, as long as those efforts are directed towards helping us succeed. But generally speaking:

Selflessness is selfishness.

Let's be more specific.

Don't focus on your position, role or title. People are very strange, always like to compare with the people around. But in the organisational structure of the holarchy, everyone knows that it is not a reflection of the contribution. Define yourself by how much you help rather than the title.

Willing to help others. Help another person in the company to succeed-no matter what the way, whether it's teaching something, offering sincere feedback or just some encouragement, you're helping us all.

Remain resilient. The only thing that's constant is change. Maybe you got a great opportunity, and then it wasn't your problem. Maybe they just made the wrong call. What kind of things will happen, let the small things of the trivial.

Look long. If we succeed, there will be unlimited expansion opportunities to do great things. In time you will be able to build up your personal reputation as a helpful, self-contributing contributor, and gain countless opportunities.

Take responsibility. This is your company. If there is a problem, it is your problem. Help find the problem, do your best to solve the problem-no matter what the problem, maybe the tension, maybe just wash a plate.

Don't complain. It is beneficial to have proper relationship tension and worry. But complaining about others or other departments or decisions is usually unhelpful. If you really need to complain, complain to someone who can make a difference. Do not spread negative emotions, this is not good.

Pay attention to the image. Those who are overly focused on building personal brands tend not to be companies first. You might have a reasonable reason to talk to people or the media outside. Although others do not know, but your colleagues know the truth, at this time you have begun to sow the seeds of resentment.