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When it comes to building a company, Brian Chesky, co-founder of Airbnb, believes there’s something crucial that most people overlook—culture. According to Chesky, no one really talks about culture, even though there’s a flood of advice on products, growth, and scaling.
Culture often seems intangible and tricky to measure, so it gets ignored. But here's the catch: culture doesn’t provide immediate rewards, making it easy to sideline. In fact, Chesky says if you want fast, short-term gains, you could just “forget about culture.” However, building a company that truly endures takes time, and culture is an investment in that long-term success.
The Hard-to-Measure Value of Culture
One reason culture gets overlooked is that it’s hard to quantify. It’s not like sales numbers or user growth that you can measure month-to-month. But that doesn’t mean it’s unimportant. Culture helps guide who you hire and how you make decisions, often slowing down the process in the short term. But, as Chesky explains, this deliberation ensures you’re creating a company built to last, not just a quick success.
Building for the Long Term
For Chesky, focusing on culture is about creating a company that can stand the test of time. It may not give you immediate results, but it’s the foundation for sustained success. Companies that endure do so because they’ve put effort into cultivating a strong, unified culture. So, while it might seem like a slow, sometimes frustrating process, it’s essential if you want your company to be around for the long haul.
An Example from the Real World
Take a look at Ben Chestnut, the co-founder of Mailchimp, a successful but lesser-known entrepreneur. He focused heavily on company culture, even when growing the business was tough. Chestnut emphasized keeping things fun and personal within the company, which helped Mailchimp evolve from a small email marketing service into a powerhouse that was eventually sold for $12 billion. It took years of building a strong internal culture, but the results speak for themselves. His approach to culture shows how crucial it is for long-term success.
Conclusion: Culture Is Your Secret Weapon
In the end, culture isn’t just a fluffy concept—it’s a long-term strategy that can define your company’s legacy. Sure, it may not pay off immediately, but over time, it shapes how you grow, how you hire, and ultimately, how you thrive. If you’re in this for the long game, investing in culture isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the only thing to do if you want your company to endure and succeed. Just ask entrepreneurs like Brian Chesky and Ben Chestnut who have seen firsthand the power of a strong company culture.
Listen to Brian Chesky:
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