On size, math, and Transformers

Hi, troublemakers! 👋

Here’s a powerful quote I’ve highlighted this week, along with a thought for you to reflect this weekend.

Take care and unwind!
Tom

1 Quote

From N.N. Taleb:

“…a city is not a large village; a corporation is not a larger small business.”

1 Thought

Size isn’t simply a multiplication of the current state of things.
Size changes structures.

Let’s consider math:

The number “4” is the sum of a few potential inputs like: [code] 4 = 1 + 1 + 1 + 1, or 4 = 1 + 1 + 2, or 4 = 1 + 3, or 4 = 2 + 2, or 4 = 4 [/code]

In theory, each “4” weighs the same, but in practice, the inner substance of “4s” is different.

Consider an early tech startup – a small team, low burn, a solid MVP, and a few clients.

What changes when the company grows 2x, 5x, 10x, or 50x? Everything.

It’s not just that problems grow exponentially. The other side is that the company transforms, and sometimes, it will be hard to recognize the original ‘garage project’ in it.

The same logic applies to the inner ‘substance of a founder’. A growing company will not only result in you working more — it will fundamentally introduce you to completely unknown territories and challenges.

To illustrate, consider that the difference between being 10 miles from a tornado and 1 mile away is not just in the wind being stronger. As you get closer, the conditions change, encompassing risks, threats, and problems.