How to Do Great Work

Foundational Lessons in Crafting Remarkable Ventures

Paul Graham, a figure synonymous with startup success, has profoundly influenced the modern entrepreneurial landscape. As a co-founder of Y Combinator (YC), he helped launch companies that have since become household names—Airbnb, Dropbox, Stripe, and Reddit, to name a few. His trajectory, from founding Viaweb (one of the earliest SaaS companies) to establishing the world’s most influential startup accelerator, has given him unique insights into what makes exceptional work possible.

This article marks the start of a series exploring Graham’s essays writings and YC’s core principles, with the goal of nurturing a thriving startup culture in the Emirates. We begin with his essay, “How to Do Great Work,” a comprehensive guide that offers wisdom applicable to startups and any ambitious endeavor.

Key Insights from “How to Do Great Work”

1. Choosing What to Work On

• Select work that aligns with your aptitude, genuine curiosity, and potential to create impact.

• Experiment with various projects to discover what truly excites and motivates you.

• Resist following societal expectations or conventional career paths; pursue what authentically fascinates you.

2. The Process of Doing Great Work

• Start small and refine through iterative improvements.

• Cultivate curiosity-driven learning until you reach the cutting edge of your field.

• Embrace gaps in knowledge and pursue unconventional, “strange” ideas.

• Remember that hard work is vital, but it must center on something engaging to remain sustainable.

3. Habits and Mindsets

• Make working on personal projects a habit, not just executing tasks assigned by others.

• Strike a balance between focused work and moments of reflection—undirected thinking can yield breakthroughs.

• Avoid procrastination at the project level, as it can cost you years of progress.

4. Characteristics of Great Work

• Great work often appears both novel and obvious in retrospect.

• Seek mathematical or artistic elegance, blending clarity, simplicity, and insight.

• Maintain consistency in the quality and direction of your efforts.

5. Overcoming Obstacles

• Don’t hesitate to discard work that no longer fits, even if it means starting over.

• Steer clear of trends, fear, or the pursuit of prestige; these distractions often lead you astray.

• Surround yourself with great colleagues who both inspire and challenge you.

6. The Role of Luck

• Luck matters, but you can increase your chances by staying curious, trying new things, and engaging with a diverse range of people and ideas.

7. The Importance of Morale

• Cultivate optimism and resilience to keep setbacks from eroding your confidence.

• Prioritize physical well-being since it directly impacts your cognitive performance.

8. Defining Success

• Great work expands people’s notion of what’s possible.

• Don’t be afraid to aim high. Even if you fail, the pursuit itself can be transformative.

Relevance to the UAE Startup Ecosystem

These principles resonate with the UAE’s emerging startup scene, where understanding the fundamentals of doing great work can help bridge the gap between ambition and execution. By applying Graham’s insights, aspiring entrepreneurs in the Emirates can build a culture that values curiosity, resilience, and innovation.

In future articles, we’ll delve deeper into Graham’s writings and YC’s methodologies, adapting their timeless principles to our local context and entrepreneurial goals.