The Tao

Some big thoughts that can guide us.  Like all good Tao’s, a constant work in progress.

Transparency We will commit to systems and practice that give all team members a well-developed sense of what is going on, how everyone else is doing, and where we are going. This will include things like using messaging systems that show us all day-to-day what is getting done and who is doing it, as well as completely open compensation tables, financials, and company communication. Time is of the essence, and transparency is not achieved unless this information is being widely and frequently consumed.

Move Fast If you don’t know what to do, keep moving.  We are generally going to be taking on projects in which there are many exciting uncertainties and our little individual brains just aren’t big enough to know exactly what to do.  The excitement of making even the smallest step in what is generally the right direction will bring you great joy.   Nature built things this way – the incredible discovery speed of millions of identical organisms with tiny variations in their code, all competing to survive.  Very clever – we should aspire in the same direction.

Believe in the market Wherever possible, encourage a process in which internal markets allow multiple buyers and sellers to compete to create the best product or solution. Also, accept that in most cases, the wisdom of a large number of people is better than yours. Though markets and democracy have lots of problems, they are nowhere near as bad as the alternatives, and their advantages grow the more rapidly changing the external conditions become.

No Fear Take real chances, and fortune will favor you. Lose your fear and you will see things clearly. Confront, expose, experience, and transcend your own weaknesses. Fear is the mind-killer, and it enslaves us most of the time and influences most of our decisions. Rage not against the machines, rage against fear.

Do it with style This is a zen thing. If you are chasing only the results – money, fame, whatever, you cannot operate at the highest level of quality and output. If you already knew you had won, how would you do it? That’s the right way. Have fun.

Love is the answer Everything presented above will lead you astray unless your actions come from love. Love is the most subtle and complex emotion. It can be experienced at peak intensity only with the full power of the human intellect and in the calm of a fearless and lucid mind. The direction of evolution is toward love. Hence the company name.