Startup insights from Jony Ive, Ev Williams, Ben Horowitz, Daniel Ek, and Ben Silberman

Every Sunday, we send out 1 free insight + 4 new bonus insights for premium subscribers (upgrade to Premium for $5/mo here).

Today’s insights:

1. Jony Ive explains the importance of giving form to an abstract idea

2. Twitter founder Ev Williams on the importance of startup founders not losing their inner compass

3. Ben Horowitz explains how startup founders should run board meetings

4. Spotify founder Daniel Ek on the importance of betting on yourself

5. Pinterest founder Ben Silberman explains the core responsibilities of the founder as a company grows

Jony Ive explains the importance of giving form to an abstract idea

“The way we design to start with is to talk. And it’s fairly exclusive—it only involves a few people.”

But, as Jony describes, the greatest change takes place when that abstract idea is given form via a drawing or a plastic model:

“What I’ve noticed is this shift is profound. It really galvanizes and provides focus to an entire team. Very often when they’re struggling with these abstract tentative ideas, you’ve got a sort of flag in many ways. It won’t become the final design, but what it does do is describe what we’re trying to do.”

Jony continues:

“There is just something very special about when you have an object. We’re physical beings, and when there’s an object to touch, everything shifts. It’s always been the case.”

Twitter and Square founder Jack Dorsey gives similar advice to people building something new:

“The hardest thing is to get started, and I think the most important thing that I’ve learned is that you have to get the idea out of your head as soon as you have it. Get it on paper and then take it one step further and just show someone.”

Full video: Vanity Fair “Apple’s Jony Ive Full Conversation with Graydon Carter | Vanity Fair“ (Oct 2014)

Twitter founder Ev Williams on the importance of startup founders not losing their inner compass

“There’s such pressure for growth and for success. And when things aren’t going right it’s very easy to lose that inner compass.”

As Ev explains, it’s easy to let yourself get pulled in a bunch of different directions to appease your customers, investors, or employees.

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