I'm Eric Ries, author of "The Lean Startup" and new book "Incorruptible" – AMA

Article summary

Eric Ries, author of 'The Lean Startup', has written a new book called 'Incorruptible' that explores the invisible forces that shape organizations and how some companies have successfully resisted 'financial gravity' to thrive for decades. Ries discusses how good companies can drift away from their founding missions due to structural issues, not intentional malice. He shares his experiences working with various companies and organizations to understand and address this problem. The book aims to provide a framework for creating and maintaining organizations that prioritize long-term human flourishing over short-term gains.

Main themes

• Organizational structure and governance
• Financial gravity and its impact
• Long-term vs short-term goals
• Mission-driven companies
• Capitalism and exploitation
• Stakeholder value vs shareholder value

What commenters say

• Some companies can reverse their decline and return to their founding mission, but it often requires a crisis or bold leadership to drive radical transformation.
• Capitalism can be a great equalizing force, but it has also been used to exploit people and resources throughout history.
• The concept of maximizing shareholder value is a misunderstanding of what it means to be a for-profit entity, and instead, companies should focus on maximizing stakeholder value.
• Corruption is a symptom of a deeper issue, which is the 'financial gravity' that pulls companies away from their founding missions.
• The two-entity structure, where a foundation oversees a for-profit company, can be an effective way to ensure the longevity of a mission.
• Some argue that foundations should spend down all their resources before the founder is gone to prevent drift and loss of efficacy, while others believe that a well-structured foundation can maintain its mission over time.
• The use of AI tools in writing and research can be beneficial, but it also raises concerns about authorship and the potential for exploitation.
• The idea of 'financial gravity' does not necessarily imply that noble missions are less profitable, but rather that the current market structure and incentives can make it difficult for companies to prioritize long-term human flourishing over short-term gains.