The Jordan Harbinger Show 336: Kevin Systrom | Life Lessons from an Instagram Founder Part Two
Apr 9, 2020
Kevin Systrom, co-founder of Instagram, shares fascinating insights about scaling startups and the importance of smart decision-making. He discusses the fine art of balancing control and productivity while navigating the challenges of success. Systrom reveals a game-changing purchase he made when Instagram took off and reflects on the feelings of FOMO that arose from his success. He also offers strategies for efficiently reading books and emphasizes the need to stay grounded in the face of fame and wealth.
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Decision Bottlenecks
- Kevin Systrom read "The Goal" and applied its manufacturing bottleneck principles to decision-making at Instagram.
- They inventoried outstanding decisions, prioritized easy ones, and then tackled the complex decisions in focused meetings.
Agility Over Size
- Instagram's early struggles with scaling were shared by other tech companies like Twitter and Foursquare.
- Their unique approach and smaller size, which allowed for agility, were key advantages against larger, slower-moving competitors.
Day One Success
- Kevin Systrom knew Instagram was special from day one due to the high signup rate, which he hadn't seen with other startups.
- Despite not having long-term retention data, he felt confident that they had created something meaningful.
