042: Guy Kawasaki – Does your startup make meaning?

“Does your startup make meaning? Meaning is not money, power, or prestige. Meaning is not creating a cool place to work with free food, Ping-Pong, volleyball, and dogs. Meaning is making the world a better place.”

“This is a difficult question to answer when you’re two guys/gals in a garage who are writing software or hand-making gizmos, but it’s also difficult to comprehend how an acorn can grow into an oak tree.”

“… I want you to dream big. When today’s humongous companies were only one year old, few people predicted their ultimate success or the meaning they would make. Trust me, if you make meaning, you’ll probably also make money.”

– Guy Kawasaki

This was drawn by Apeng. Check out his awesome art blog here.

I don’t think Guy Kawasaki needs an introduction. I have written about him in a previous comic based on his quote, here. In fact, this comic is a spiritual successor to that comic, featuring the same characters and their entrepreneurial journey.

Some of you should know by now, I have been reading up Guy Kawasaki’s latest book The Art of The Start 2.0. Progress has been slow as I am a slow reader. However, this quote appears in the early chapters of the book. When I read it, I instantly knew it was comic material. And thus, here is it.

I think this quote is a extension of the ‘do what you love’ and ‘you get what you give’ themes. Not just people, but businesses too should also do what they love, and help people. A business confused about it’s purpose and mission is one that isn’t likely to be making progress, money or any growth. I have heard the advice of how “the more people a business can serve, the more money it can make”, too many times to ignore it.

I hope the message gets through to you too.

I won’t be finishing The Art of The Start 2.0 book anytime soon. But when I do, do you guys want a book review for this book?

Also, if you can’t get enough of Guy Kawasaki, he’s got a new Udemy course on entrepreneurship. It’s on sale now, so do check it out!

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