The Metaphysics of Growth How does growth happen? Salim Ismail Ignite SF 2008

Growth Dictionary 1. The process of growing. 2. Development from a lower or simpler to a higher or more complex form; evolution. 3. An increase, as in size, number, value, or strength; extension or expansion: population growth. 4. Something that grows or has grown: a new growth of grass Evolution, improvement, expansion… ‘ more’… ‘better’

Dictionary

1. The process of growing.

2. Development from a lower or simpler to a higher or more complex form; evolution.

3. An increase, as in size, number, value, or strength; extension or expansion: population growth.

4. Something that grows or has grown: a new growth of grass

Evolution, improvement, expansion…

‘ more’… ‘better’

Growth is Pervasive It’s everywhere Any startup Your code base Economy Personal growth Finance Evolution Children Nature Is there any aspect of your life that doesn’t try to grow, improve or evolve?

It’s everywhere

Any startup

Your code base

Economy

Personal growth

Finance

Evolution

Children

Nature

Is there any aspect of your life that doesn’t try to grow, improve or evolve?

Metaphysics Physics: Studies reality Science: The investigation of natural phenomena through observation, theoretical explanation, and experimentation, or the knowledge produced by such investigation. Metaphysics: Examines the nature and structure of reality What is the nature and structure of growth? We don’t think enough about this….

Physics: Studies reality

Science: The investigation of natural phenomena through observation, theoretical explanation, and experimentation, or the knowledge produced by such investigation.

Metaphysics: Examines the nature and structure of reality

What is the nature and structure of growth?

We don’t think enough about this….

Where does this come from? Degree in theoretical physics Comes from a lot of reading/writing I’ve done on philosophy/metaphysics for a few years Robert Pirsig “ Zen & the art of Motorcycle Maintenance” “ Lila” – The metaphysics of Quality

Degree in theoretical physics

Comes from a lot of reading/writing I’ve done on philosophy/metaphysics for a few years

Robert Pirsig

“ Zen & the art of Motorcycle Maintenance”

“ Lila” – The metaphysics of Quality

New Metaphysics Via Pirsig…. Our philosophies today are based on a subject/object metaphysics Western philosphy stresses objective thinking science, logic tries to represent reality Eastern philosophy thinks everything is subjective Meditation Tries to integrate with reality by going inwards

Via Pirsig….

Our philosophies today are based on a subject/object metaphysics

Western philosphy stresses objective thinking

science, logic

tries to represent reality

Eastern philosophy thinks everything is subjective

Meditation

Tries to integrate with reality by going inwards

Structural problem in Philosophy However Large areas of life don’t fall into the subject/object buckets E.g. Moral Values, or Love/Emotions Causes a mess for philosophers… they’re having to cope with a major flaw in the underlying framework

However

Large areas of life don’t fall into the subject/object buckets

E.g. Moral Values, or Love/Emotions

Causes a mess for philosophers… they’re having to cope with a major flaw in the underlying framework

Need a new metaphysics Re-engineer from the bottom up and chuck the subject/object metaphysics It’s the wrong split in reality Need a new one that better covers life experiences Based it on Quality (= goodness)

Re-engineer from the bottom up and chuck the subject/object metaphysics

It’s the wrong split in reality

Need a new one that better covers life experiences

Based it on Quality (= goodness)

Take a phased approach Dynamic Static Predictable Unpredictable Stable Unstable Definable/Divisible Undefinable Kinetic or Stored Potential Routine Exciting Safe Dangerous Limiting Limitless Easily measured Not quantifiable Old New

Dynamic Static

Two Processes in Growth Growth Break free from old pattern Take on uncertainty/risk Leap for a new level Consolidation Take a breath, establish some solidity Get ready for next leap These are archetypal

Growth

Break free from old pattern

Take on uncertainty/risk

Leap for a new level

Consolidation

Take a breath, establish some solidity

Get ready for next leap

These are archetypal

More on Growth… Grow Consolidate Unknown Known Yin Yang

Examples Growth can be negative!! Feedback & full rollout Feature releases via betas Product Mgmt Term sheet and finally $$$ Talk to hundreds of VCs Get funding Testing / Implementation Implement a new design Software Exam Learn all semester Student Consolidation Growth

http://hansvandevorst.com

More characteristics Growth is cyclical Tree rings Code versions It is nested (hierarchically) As one part grows, so does the larger whole “ Reculer pour mieux sauter” Move back so you can jump further Break old patterns to make way for new

Growth is cyclical

Tree rings

Code versions

It is nested (hierarchically)

As one part grows, so does the larger whole

“ Reculer pour mieux sauter”

Move back so you can jump further

Break old patterns to make way for new

Growth and Technology All processes are either supporting growth infrastructure Unknown Known Yin Yang

All processes are either supporting

growth

infrastructure

Processes Inside Companies Growth Consolidation Fundraising Legal Marketing Accounting Sales Administrative Product Dev’t Testing

Growth Consolidation

Fundraising Legal

Marketing Accounting

Sales Administrative

Product Dev’t Testing

Growth in Information The internet is in serious growth mode Lots of information types being layered onto it… Text about things (HTML) What I think about (blogs) Who I know (social networks) What I’m doing (twitter, pownce) What is everyone else doing (friendfeed, Twhirl) Where am I (Fire Eagle, Loop…) What do I care about What do I want (offers for sale) What do I like / not like (reviews / ratings) Tom Coates: “ the web of data”

The internet is in serious growth mode

Lots of information types being layered onto it…

Text about things (HTML)

What I think about (blogs)

Who I know (social networks)

What I’m doing (twitter, pownce)

What is everyone else doing (friendfeed, Twhirl)

Where am I (Fire Eagle, Loop…)

What do I care about

What do I want (offers for sale)

What do I like / not like (reviews / ratings)

The process is usually the same New data gets traction on the internet Company X tries to own all that data Used to be AOL Today: Facebook Standards are agreed and the data opens up Competition thrives (or not…) Back to A…..

New data gets traction on the internet

Company X tries to own all that data

Used to be AOL

Today: Facebook

Standards are agreed and the data opens up

Competition thrives (or not…)

Back to A…..

Two Processes in Growth Growth Break free from old pattern Take on uncertainty/risk Leap for a new level Consolidation Take a breath, establish some solidity Get ready for next leap These are archetypal

Growth

Break free from old pattern

Take on uncertainty/risk

Leap for a new level

Consolidation

Take a breath, establish some solidity

Get ready for next leap

These are archetypal

Now that you understand growth Take some risks… Pick a technology/domain you’re passionate about… Find a great idea that’ll solve a real need… Go start a company and grow it…

Take some risks…

Pick a technology/domain you’re passionate about…

Find a great idea that’ll solve a real need…

Go start a company and grow it…