Announcing: Growth Isn’t One Sided
Grow your business without breaking it—How Lyft and Uber taught me to think differently
Some of the fastest-growing companies in history have collapsed under their own weight. Why? Because growth alone isn’t enough. What matters is how you grow.
Here’s what most business leaders get wrong: they think scale is everything. If that were true, every company that expanded quickly would succeed. But we’ve seen this isn’t the case. Quick growth doesn’t always mean lasting growth.
Real success isn’t just about getting bigger. It’s about knowing when to make things better, when to adapt, and when to take risks.
What I Learned in the Trenches
I spent six years working at Lyft and Uber during some of their most explosive growth periods. We took risks and embraced uncertainty. We redefined how cities move and altered entire industries.
That kind of growth doesn’t come from following a formula. It comes from knowing when to focus on efficiency and when to take bold risks.
Over time I came to learn that success requires blending different ways of thinking.
Manager thinking focuses on consistency and improving what works
Entrepreneur thinking focuses on creating new paths for growth
Harmonizer thinking combines both to handle real-world complexity
The Growth Paradox
Businesses that focus only on efficiency can stall. Businesses that focus only on innovation often can’t scale.
The future belongs to companies that blend both approaches.
But here’s what makes this difficult. The things that make companies successful at optimization and scaling can often create barriers to innovation. Systems designed for only efficiency can kill the experimentation that drives long-term growth.
Beyond the Either/Or Trap
Most companies get trapped thinking they have to choose between efficiency and innovation. But that’s a false choice.
Successful companies don’t pick between efficiency and growth. They create systems that do both.
The secret is understanding that different problems need different approaches:
Predictable problems work well with data, systems, and structure
Unpredictable problems need judgment, creativity, and real-world understanding
Complex challenges need Harmonizers who can combine both approaches
What Does This Cover?
I’ll be sharing “Growth Isn’t One Sided” chapter by chapter as part of our Economics for Organizations series. This isn’t another business book filled with generic advice. It’s a practical framework built from real experience scaling two of the most disruptive companies of our time.
You’ll discover:
Part 1: The Trouble with Scale
Real data beats perfect models - Not all data helps you. Having more data doesn’t mean you know more
Alignment matters - Your systems should help growth happen, not get in the way
Silos kill momentum - Teams need to work together across different functions and roles
Part 2: The Right People for the Right Problems
Managers vs. Entrepreneurs - Both are essential. Pick only one and you’ll stall or crash
Growth needs more than efficiency - You have to invest in ideas that don’t scale yet but become tomorrow’s big wins
Front-line insights - People closest to customers often drive growth where central planning fails
Part 3: New Tools, New Roles
Scalable vs. Non-scalable Problems - Different challenges need completely different approaches
Harmonizers - The missing role that connects data-driven thinking with creative thinking
AI and Human Judgment - As machines handle routine tasks, winning businesses combine AI precision with human insight
Who This Is For
This framework is for startup founders, senior executives, team leaders, and even operators.
If you work inside a growing organization and want to build systems that grow without breaking, this offers a new way to think.
Why Does This Matter Now?
AI is taking over routine tasks. The future of work is changing rapidly. But human judgment remains essential for handling unpredictable and creative challenges.
Building for today and tomorrow means balancing immediate challenges with long-term possibilities. It means developing people who can bridge different types of thinking and tackle messy problems that drive breakthroughs.
Over the next few years, the companies that survive and succeed won’t just grow differently. They’ll have to think differently.
Real, not Theoretical
These ideas aren’t theory. They’re tested frameworks from my time at companies that redefined entire industries. Every insight comes from real challenges we faced while building two of the fastest growing companies in history.
Drawing from my experience as the one economist in the room, you’ll see how economic thinking provides clarity when traditional business frameworks fall short.
What’s Next
Starting next October 1, I’ll share one chapter each week from “Growth Isn’t One Sided.” Each chapter focuses on one core insight you can apply immediately, whether you’re leading a team of 5 or 500.
This isn’t about adding more complexity to your organization. It’s about seeing the patterns that determine whether growth creates strength or chaos.
The goal is simple: help you build something that lasts.
Growth Isn’t One Sided will be published as a complete minibook later this year. Subscribers to EconomicsFor get early access to every chapter, plus deep-dive articles explaining the economic principles that make these frameworks work.