Diversify Hires Based on Effectiveness, Not Likability: Phil Libin's Approach

As the co-founder and CEO of All Turtles and Mmhmm, Phil Libin shares his unconventional approach to building successful companies by prioritizing effectiveness over personal relationships.

1. Phil Libin is the co-founder and CEO of All Turtles and Mmhmm, and has founded five startups, including Evernote.
2. He believes in working with people who are effective at their job, rather than hiring people he likes.
3. He avoids thinking about who he likes when hiring, instead focusing on who can do the job well.
4. Libin values diversity and effectiveness over personal bias when building a team.
5. His methodology for developing new products involves observing his own habits and those of his target market for two weeks each.
6. He looks for things that people do frequently but dislike, and considers how technology can improve the experience.
7. Mmhmm, an app that enhances video calls, was developed using this methodology.
8. Libin started Mmhmm as a joke to make video calls more fun during the COVID-19 pandemic.
9. The idea for Mmhmm came from recognizing the monotony of Zoom calls and seeking ways to improve the experience.
10. In developing Mmhmm, Libin considered advances in computer vision and APIs that make it possible to create a better video call experience.
11. Libin's four-year plan for Mmhmm focuses on impact before growth, starting with creating a product, raising funds, and hiring people.
12. The second year is dedicated to finding product-market fit through customer feedback, while the third year emphasizes scaling by simplifying the product.
13. In the fourth year, the focus shifts to profitability and self-sustainability.
14. Libin believes that poor communication is at the root of many global problems and has worsened during the pandemic due to video call fatigue.
15. He encourages companies to balance synchronous and asynchronous work, allowing for flexibility in when and how people collaborate.
16. Communication should involve a mix of in-person, live video, and recorded video interactions.
17. Libin emphasizes the importance of recognizing luck in success and taking advantage of opportunities when they arise.
18. He encourages building relationships with high-quality people and working on meaningful projects to increase one's chances of being part of something special.
19. Libin values hard work, brilliant team members, and luck as essential components of his success.
20. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the impact of one's job on a company's mission and fostering a culture where everyone is aware of their contributions.

Source: EO via YouTube

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