#800: Ev Williams — The Art of Pivoting (e.g., Odeo to Twitter), Strategic Quitting, The Dangers of Premature Scaling, Must-Read Books, and More

Ev Williams, an entrepreneur known for his involvement with influential internet companies, developed his very first product in the early 90s and subsequently led Odeo to the creation of Twitter.

Ev's Early Internet Industry Involvement, Including a VHS Tape on Internet Usage

Ev's First Internet Product in 1994 Was a VHS Tape Teaching Internet Use, Including FTP and the Web

Williams' entry into the internet product space began in 1994 with the creation of a unique educational tool. He developed a VHS tape designed to teach individuals how to use the internet. This tape covered using FTP by terminal and provided an introduction to an emerging technology known as the web. The tape was meant for people who did not have internet access and served as an instructional guide to the online world.

Ev's Odeo Leadership Leading To Twitter

In a reflection on his entrepreneurial journey, Williams shares insights into his leadership at Odeo and how it eventually led to the creation of the social media giant, Twitter.

Odeo, Founded by Ev In 2005, Faced Challenges After Apple's Itunes Podcasting Release

Odeo, the company founded by Williams in 2005, initially started as a podcasting platform. However, the launch of iTunes podcasting by Apple presented a significant challenge to Odeo's market, as it directly competed with the core of Odeo's offering.

Ev Abandoned Odeo, Losing Faith in Its Vision

Faced with the formidable competition from iTunes and the shifting landscape of online media, Williams openly acknowledged to his board that Odeo was not on the path to success. Asked by his board if he had any other ideas beyond podcasting, Williams candidly revealed that he was not personally passionate about podcasting – the primary focus of Odeo at the time. This lack of personal investment led him to lose faith in the company's vision.

Twitter, Odeo's Side Pr ...

Ev Williams shares vital lessons from his own entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the wisdom in strategic quitting, his iterative approach to product development, and cautious management of growth to avoid premature scaling.

Ev's View on Strategic Quitting Versus Perseverance

Ev Believes Quitting a Struggling Project or Company Can Be Wise, Even Against Conventional Wisdom

Williams reflects on his time with Odeo, a podcasting company he chose to cease working on, not because it was wholly unsuccessful, but because he lost belief in its vision. This decision epitomizes his understanding of strategic quitting. He contrasts this experience with that of Blogger, which went through severe financial struggles before its sale to Google but ultimately reinforced his belief in perseverance. Through Odeo, Williams learned that quitting can open doors to new opportunities, such as the founding of Twitter.

Examples of Strategic Quitting for Greater Success

He also discusses the sunk cost fallacy and cites Annie Duke's book, which influenced his decision to resign from Medium. Williams insists that quitting is often stigmatized due to ego, pride, or external expectations, yet the opportunity cost of remaining tied to a struggling project can be substantial. He suggests that if a project feels like a slog, then quitting may lead to better, more fulfilling opportunities. He gave an honest assessment of Odeo to his board members, showcasing the value in strategic quitting for greater success in the long run.

Ev's Approach to Product Development and Iteration

Williams passionately believes in creating products that he personally wants to use, advocating for an iterative, open-ended development process over rigid advance planning.

Ev Creates Products He's Personally Passionate About Using

In his new venture Mozi, Williams originally developed a feature for customizable digital business cards, but he and his team scrapped it to focus on the app's core usefulness. He removes features that do not contribute to the utility—a utility that aligns with his personal interests, like finding where friends are when visiting cities, something that Mozi facilitates.

He Prefers Iterative, Open-Ended Product Development Over Perfect Advance Planning

Drawing analogies to creative processes like writing or painting, Williams sees product development as a journey of discovery. He emphasizes the importance of evolving product ideas through iteration to find success, as demonstrated by Twitter's transition from an audio to a text-based service. For innovation that truly pushes boundaries, Williams cites the book "Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned: The Myth of the Objective," arguing for a trial-and-error approach rather than a set plan.

Ev's Thoughts On Managing Growth and Scaling Prematurel ...

Ev Williams, known for his significant contributions to internet technologies, is now emphasizing the importance of personal relationships and growth.

Ev's Shift Towards Prioritizing Relationships and Personal Development

Ev Williams candidly admits that, in the past, he had put too much emphasis on business success at the expense of personal relationships. This realization has become particularly poignant in his recent stage of life. Events such as being fired from Twitter have led him to focus on personal growth and healing. Although being let go from Twitter was a blow to his identity and ego, it provided him with an opportunity to step back from the CEO role while retaining ownership. This turning point initiated a period of deep reflection, propelling Williams on a journey of long-term personal growth.

Ev's Adoption of Habits to Support Personal Development

In more recent years, Williams has taken his physical health and well-being seriously through exercise and meditation. As he neared 50, he recognized the need to work harder to maintain his fitness, and he found motivation in the positive feedback loop that exercise provided. Similarly, Williams has always seen the value in meditation, and committed to doing it daily throughout 2024. His practice mostly involves mindfulness meditation focused on his breath and awareness. He credits a meditation app, The Way, recommended by Kevin Rose, for enhancing his meditative experience.

Additionally, Williams delves into his personal development work over the past few years, giving special mention to the Hoffman Process. This immersive growth program, which he found more impactful than years of therapy, strips away societal labels and encourages deep interpersonal connections. Williams speaks to its safety and maturity as a process despite the strangeness and difficulty it presents.

Ev's Goal: Building a "Social" App With Mozi

Mozi: Ev's New Company, Fostering Real-World Connections

As the co-founder and chairman of Mozi, a new social network, Williams aims to enhance real-world interactions. Mozi offers a platform that builds upon the traditional contacts app and embodies a private social network for those in your phone contacts. The service offers features such as city-level location sharing and focuses on in-person connection by letting friends know when others are in town. His vision for Mozi is to redefine "social" to mean substantial, real-life interactions as opposed to superficial online performances.

Ev's vision for Mozi includes creating a ubiquitous so ...