The Power of Principles w/ Leif Abraham

Honesty kills bullshit. You’re an owner, act like one. Enable, don’t direct.

No — this isn’t unsolicited advice from me - although it could be. These are actually 3 of the 9 core culture principles for Public.com, an investing app that is making the stock market social.

Today’s guest, Leif Abraham, is the author of these principles and the Co-Founder and CEO of Public.com.

Leif developed these principles through a successful career as a creative director before founding his first two companies, And.Co & PayWithATweet, both of which went on to be acquired. 

He believes that for any company to be successful, the values have to be more than simple sayings, but the principles that guide your behavior and approach to work each and every day. As Leif says:

“Autonomy without principles creates anarchy.”

We also discuss why Leif thinks real innovation doesn’t rely on consultants, the importance of building an inclusive community around a product, and why he looks for the right values, over the right skills, in new hires.

To put it in his words: “It’s easier to teach skills than it is to teach values”

You can follow the podcast and host Chuck Swoboda on Twitter for further exploration and discussion on innovation.

The episode is also available wherever else you listen to podcasts. Enjoy!