I can't make products just for 41 year old tech founders," Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky on taking it back to the basics
Decoder with Nilay Patel
How Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky Makes Decisions
Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, shares his decision-making framework based on principles, authenticity, and first-principle thinking. He recounts a crisis in 2011 when a host's apartment was trashed, and how he learned that authenticity and speaking from the heart were more important than following advice from crisis communication professionals. Since then, he has made principle decisions, not business decisions. Chesky also emphasizes the importance of understanding the first principles of something before making decisions, rather than relying on analogy or experimentation without understanding why something works. During the pandemic, he wrote a set of principles to guide decision-making and make quick decisions that align with the company's values. Chesky believes in being emotionally invested in decision-making and understanding all the costs involved, which leads to making the right decisions. He also highlights the importance of explaining your thinking to clarify it and ensure clear decision-making.
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