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Building something new often feels like an uphill battle, especially when the results don’t match your aspirations. Brian Chesky, co-founder of Airbnb, shared his own struggles with early-stage growth—a period filled with doubt, sleepless nights, and self-questioning. Yet, Chesky learned that patience, progress, and focus can turn even the slowest beginnings into remarkable success.
The Slow Grind of Starting
In the early days of Airbnb, Chesky and his co-founders faced a daunting reality: their marketplace had no users. They’d sit in their kitchen late at night, wondering why growth wasn’t happening. Chesky couldn’t help but compare himself to friends running companies with millions of users. The questions kept coming: Are we not good enough? Is our idea flawed?
For anyone running a small team or an early startup, these feelings are all too familiar. The desire to scale quickly often leads to frustration. Chesky, however, discovered a powerful lesson: growth isn’t just about speed—it’s about direction.
Progress, Not Perfection
One of Chesky’s breakthrough moments came through weekly meetings with a startup founder from Y Combinator. The advice he received shifted his mindset entirely: stop focusing on the number of users, and start focusing on progress.
Every week, Chesky prepared updates to share, not on how many people had joined Airbnb but on how the product had improved. These small steps created momentum. The beauty of starting small, Chesky realized, was that they could pour all their energy into delighting their few users, making their product so good that these users couldn’t help but talk about it.
The Blessing of Slow Growth
It’s counterintuitive, but Chesky calls the absence of massive growth early on a blessing. With only a few users, Airbnb’s team could experiment, learn, and iterate without the pressure of scaling too fast. This phase allowed them to focus on the quality of the experience rather than obsessing over numbers.
Lessons for Entrepreneurs
If you’re managing a small team or feeling the sting of slow progress, Chesky’s story offers three key takeaways:
Lean on Mentors: Find advisors who can guide you through your challenges. Regular check-ins can create accountability and reveal new perspectives.
Prioritize Progress: Don’t obsess over growth metrics. Focus on consistently improving your product or service.
Delight Your Early Users: Treat your first customers as the foundation of your business. Their loyalty and feedback will shape your future.
The Airbnb Example
Airbnb didn’t start as a global phenomenon. Its growth stemmed from an obsessive focus on user experience. For instance, the founders famously traveled to meet hosts, photograph their properties, and gather feedback—an approach that built trust and loyalty.
This commitment paid off. Today, Airbnb operates in over 100,000 cities and has transformed how people travel.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Brian Chesky’s advice is a refreshing reminder that success doesn’t happen overnight. The early grind may feel thankless, but it’s the perfect time to refine your craft, build meaningful relationships, and lay the groundwork for future growth.
So, if you’re frustrated by your pace, take Chesky’s advice: focus less on where you aren’t and more on how far you’ve come.
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