I’m getting my feet on the ground in my new role at Hulu, and after meeting dozens of people in my “getting started” process, I’m noticing some interesting things about the place. Watch this space over time… I’ll take stock along the way and see if these patterns bear out and I still see them as important.
Here’s what I’m noticing so far:
1. Focused, like a laser. Maybe this is obvious in any start-up environment, but it’s very clear that people know why they are here and what they are supposed to be doing. With this focus comes clarity of purpose and unity of efforts. This is not heads-down, buried in my work kind of focus… rather, it’s a collaborative, prioritized list of action items getting checked off without distraction.
2. Urgent, like I’m late. This is fast motion, high energy urgency like you see in professional sports. If you like my “Hockey is Life” series, my experience so far reminds me of the lesson about winning the short races. And, this is not a panicky running around like chickens, this is a confident and relentless pressure to move forward quickly. There’s no time like the present to get stuff done… now (is that redundant? Doesn’t matter, get it done)
3. Eyes on the horizon. It seems everyone is scanning the world at all times. There is a continuous thread about user needs, client needs, technology trends, and industry subtleties woven into everyone’s work dialogue. This external orientation keeps things simple, and allows for a cultural value called “frugality” to thrive. This means invest in the things that matter the most and avoid those that build comfort or create distractions.
4. Dig in with both hands. There is an action orientation that people at Hulu call “building”. This is a place where builders build. That means everyone gets their hands on something and makes it come alive or makes it better… and this is professional building, not “let’s see if we can make this work” experimentation. There’s an “over the moon” quality standard that starts with a desire for a “pixel perfect” viewing experience for Hulu users, and translates into a “bring your A-game” expectation for every encounter. Building can happen in any function on any task. There’s no supervising or managing, it’s all building. I saw a post earlier this week from Ben Horowitz that underscores this point. Leaders here are pulling the rope with everyone else… they’re not coaching from the sidelines. Their skill, content, and experience are applied directly to the tasks at hand.
It’s really fun to be part of the crackling energy and rocking vibe of Hulu. I’ll keep you posted as things unfold.
Popularity: 29% [?]
In the immortal words of Dr. Frankenstein, played by Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein, “It… could… work!!!!”
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Despite the deep malaise in the auto industry and the lackluster efforts by the federal government, articles like this show there is light at the end of the tunnel with practical ideas and solid advice. I thought I’d join the fray with an idea for how GM might move forward to a better place. I’m not claiming to be an auto industry expert, but my distance from it might be an advantage (at IDEO we call this the “naïve mind”).