Alexandr Wang

4 notes in the collection. Writes at alexw.substack.com (opens in a new tab)

First saved Do Too Much on August 21, 2026.

Do Too Much(favorite) Aug 21 2 min
Wang argues a leader sets the ceiling on how much a company cares, so leaders must overdo everything, as Scale did by moving most of its team to LLM data within six months.
Related
- Optimism Shapes RealityAlexandr Wang
- Don’t Edit Your ImaginationBrian Chesky
- Just keep goingWill Ahmed
- The Perils of PrudenceAbraham Thomas
Read the original of Do Too Much (opens in a new tab)
Information Compression(favorite) Aug 21 5 min
Wang's 2019 Scale memo argues companies slow down because people compress complex problems badly when handing them off, so the fix is shared context, vertical teams, and solving your own problems.
Related
- The Worst Outcome is a Mediocre SuccessAbraham Thomas
- Incentives as selection effectsSebastian Bensusan
- Agency problemsChris Dixon
- Steve Jobs on problem solvingChris Dixon
Read the original of Information Compression (opens in a new tab)
Optimism Shapes Reality(favorite) Aug 21 5 min
Wang's 2019 Scale memo argues that time estimates set how long work takes, since people aim just under any bar, so optimistic scopes make teams move faster.
Related
- Do Too MuchAlexandr Wang
- Don’t Edit Your ImaginationBrian Chesky
- Just keep goingWill Ahmed
- The Perils of PrudenceAbraham Thomas
Read the original of Optimism Shapes Reality (opens in a new tab)
Hire people who give a shit. Aug 21 3 min
Wang's Scale memo argues the key hiring screen is whether candidates care about the company and have been obsessed with work before, warning that a growing startup risks becoming a credential instead of a mission.
Related
- Employee RetentionSam Altman
- Greg BrockmanSam Altman
- Don’t Fuck Up the CultureBrian Chesky
- Lieutenants are the limiting reagentSebastian Bensusan
Read the original of Hire people who give a shit. (opens in a new tab)

If you like Alexandr Wang, try

Sam Altman26 notes · also on startups and agency
Brian Chesky4 notes · also on startups and hiring
Abraham Thomas3 notes · also on startups and agency

Alexandr Wang

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