Summary

Zappos, a shoe company, exemplifies the importance of focusing on long-term connections and a strong company culture over short-term profits, as detailed in Tony Hsieh's book "Delivering Happiness," which has significantly influenced the author's personal philosophy on living better.

Abstract

Zappos, once on the brink of bankruptcy, transformed into a paragon of customer service and company culture, ultimately being acquired by Amazon for a substantial sum. The company's emphasis on fostering long-term relationships rather than prioritizing immediate financial gains is a philosophy that resonated with the author, prompting a reevaluation of personal values. The book "Delivering Happiness" by Tony Hsieh, Zappos' CEO, underscores the critical role of company culture and the importance of surrounding oneself with people who share a common vision and values. The narrative highlights the author's realization that happiness and fulfillment are not solely derived from monetary success but from meaningful connections and experiences with others. Zappos' unique approach to company culture, including offering new hires $4000 to leave if they are not fully committed, serves as a testament to the company's dedication to its values and the belief that investing in culture yields intangible returns.

Opinions

The author believes that the people you associate with are crucial to your happiness and that a positive company culture is essential for personal fulfillment.
Short-term profits should not overshadow the importance of long-term connections with colleagues and customers.
The thrill of working with like-minded individuals towards a shared vision is a significant factor in job satisfaction.
Money, power, and fame are not the ultimate measures of success; instead, experiences and relationships are key to a fulfilling life.
Zappos' practice of offering new hires money to quit is seen as a strategic move to ensure commitment to the company's culture and values.
The author has personally adopted Zappos' principles, becoming more open and vulnerable, and valuing those who remain by their side without monetary incentives.
The lessons learned from Zappos extend beyond business practices, advocating for a life optimized for happiness, love, and human connection.

What Zappos Taught Me About Living Better

Life lessons from a shoe company

They were on the verge of failing. Almost bankrupt.

Now, they are seen as one of the best customer oriented brands of all time.

They turned it around because they focused not on short term profits but long term connection.

Indirectly, this company taught me to do the same. They taught me to live better.

I was recently reading the book, Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh. His most recent company, Zappos, was acquired by Amazon for 1.2 billion dollars. And he did this feat twice. Both of the companies he founded were sold over 200 million dollars.

Focus on culture

I now know the importance of the people you associate yourself with. It’s absolutely crucial to have people you love hanging out with. People who you can share your life with.

I used to think that as long as the pay was good, who cares about culture. It’s stupid. I thought that I could deal talking to colleagues that I didn’t connect with. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I was wrong. The people who you talk to everyday matters. After all, if you spend 1/3 of your life working, then 1/3 of your time is around your colleagues. I was dumb to think that 1/3 of my life could be spent around people I lacked friendships with, that I would still end up happy given that trade-off.

The main idea in his book was how important culture actually is. Tony valued experiences over material things.

In his first company, LinkExchange, he loved going to work everyday. The thrill of starting a company with like-minded people all hustling towards a common vision was exhilarating. Later, he dreaded going to work.

What changed?

The company got bigger. People he didn’t recognize anymore were passing by him at the office everyday. He hated it. There was no connection between people anymore. When his company got sold, he could walk away with 40 million dollars if he stayed on as CEO for another year, or take a 20% pay cut. He walked away from it all.

What do you value?

What do you really value? Is it money? Is it power, or fame? Is it something you want to shape your life around?

These were the questions that were running through my mind.

I used to think that money was the most important thing. I later realized that I don’t want to make my life all about money. I want to live, to enjoy experiences with the people I love and care about. I want to be fulfilled, and that’s something money can’t buy.

Zappos has a whole book about their culture. For an ordinary company, publishing a new physical book every year about their culture is an expense. Zappos is not one of those companies. Tony said you can’t measure the ROI on values. That’s something that pays dividends in the future, but not in the short-term. Every new hire is required to read the book on their culture. They are even offered $4000 to quit.

Say what?

If the new hire takes the offer, Zappos sees it as a win, that those people weren’t committed to the company for the long run.

I took this advice to heart. I became more vulnerable with people. That’s my $4000 offered. If people run …good, they weren’t going to stick around me for the long run.

I was amazed that a shoe company could teach me so much about how to live better. Out of all things I could’ve learned this from, it came from a business book. We can all learn something from how Zappos operates. They operate by caring about human connection and living better, by optimizing for happiness and love. The rest will take care of itself.