How I Built This with Guy Raz Live From The HIBT Summit: Stewart Butterfield
Jan 30, 2020
Stewart Butterfield, co-founder of Flickr and Slack, shares his surprising journey from failed video games to tech triumphs. He reflects on the pivotal moments that fueled his transitions, revealing how challenges can breed innovation. Stewart also delves into the emotional weight of closing a company, emphasizing responsibility towards employees. He discusses the art of effective communication during pivotal shifts, spotlighting the need for clarity in the fast-paced tech world. His insights inspire resilience and adaptability in entrepreneurship.
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Pivot to Flickr
- Stewart Butterfield faced a crucial decision: abandon a two-year video game project or pivot to a photo-sharing site.
- Due to financial constraints and the faster development time of the photo site, he chose the latter, leading to Flickr's creation.
Glitch's Failure
- Glitch, despite funding and talent, failed partly due to its difficulty to explain concisely.
- The shift to mobile gaming also contributed to its demise, ultimately leading to its shutdown despite an enthusiastic user base.
Recognizing Pivotal Moments
- Guy Raz discusses pivots with examples like Tofurky and Stacy's Pita Chips, both shifting from initial products to more successful ones.
- This highlights how adaptability and recognizing changing demands can lead to greater outcomes.