Gist

Tom Preston-Werner argues that people, product, and philosophy are inseparable drivers of a successful company. GitHub’s early team combined complementary skills, learned from previous work, and focused on solving a small problem well before expanding its mission. He stresses designing focused products, hiring for team fit, and building a clear company philosophy that guides decisions. He closes by urging founders to make the most of opportunities and invest in work they believe can have a broad impact.