Put the customer first
We put our customers at the center of the product decision-making process. By reframing feature discussions into customer benefits, we create customer value. We aim to build long-lasting relationships by understanding our customers intimately, earning their trust, and solving their most important problems.
“We’ve had three big ideas at Amazon that we’ve stuck with for 18 years, and they’re the reason we’re successful: Put the customer first. Invent. And be patient.“
Jeff Bezos, Amazon
Better than yesterday
We understand that comparing ourselves to competitors is fruitless. We know that comparing ourselves to yesterday is the most effective method of self-improvement. We hustle for daily inches as we strive for a massive long-term impact. We actively seek continual, incremental improvements and harness the magic of compounding effort.
1.01365 → 40
1.01365 * 10 → 6 quadrillion
Source: The 1% Principle
Big, hairy, audacious goals
We think big, build for scale, and seek audacious impact. Our corporate goal is to become the world’s best AI-native enterprise software company.
“The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.”
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female Head of State in Africa
Source: BHAG
Make the big things small
Big things often have small beginnings. The devil is in the details. Doing the small things consistently well each day is the way to make impossible things possible over the long term.
“I don’t take on big things. What I do, pretty much, is make the big things small and the small things big.”
Larry David, creator of “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Sense of urgency
Perfect is the enemy of good. We lean into action while balancing it with thoughtful consideration of all opportunities. When we fail, we fail fast and learn.
“Move fast and break things.”
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook
Simplify
We create novel solutions from first principles and elemental clarity. We strive to highlight their value in simple language.
“When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don’t mean utterly, but kill most of them — then the rest will be valuable.”
Mark Twain, an American writer
Stay humble
We stand on the shoulders of giants. We strive to move beyond our own beliefs, biases, and blind spots. We practice humility by assuming our ignorance and relentlessly seeking to uncover the reality before us.
“The moment that you begin to think we are great your slide towards mediocrity will have begun.”
Jim Collins, author of “Good to Great”
“We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility.”
Rabindranath Tagore, Bengali polymath, writer, and philosopher
Effortless gratitude
We choose to be grateful by demonstrating appreciation to others. We appreciate the moment, our team, our partners, and ourselves. When times turn difficult, we look for the positive and are thankful for the opportunity to make a difference in the world.
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.”
Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, French writer
Actively listen
We offer respect by listening to others intently. We strive to be genuinely curious to improve mutual understanding. We assume other people are speaking and acting with positive intent.
“I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening.”
Larry King, CNN legendary interviewer
Source: Active Listening on HBR
Writing is transformative
We know that talking makes ideas more real, and writing makes ideas more useful. We organize clear, well-written documentation because it is essential and transformative – to refine concepts, strategize plans, and define goals before committing to concrete action.
“Writing is nature’s way of letting you know how sloppy your thinking is.”
Dick Guindon, syndicated cartoonist
Sources: Thinking, Talking, Writing and How to Write Like an Amazonian
Commit and own the outcome
We act like owners of our company and the world we are building. An ownership mindset reveals a wider range of possibilities for navigating better outcomes. We are fully accountable for the outcomes of our actions and inactions. Because we are committed, we progress our work to completion.
“Most people fail, not because of lack of desire, but, because of lack of commitment.”
Vince Lombardi, American football coach
“The buck stops here.”
Harry Truman, American President
