This article was originally published on July 18, 2024, and was updated on August 28, 2024.
Today, nothing but gratitude comes to mind. Gratitude for our customers. Gratitude for our employees. Gratitude for our many backers — from our investors to the family and friends who support us as we work to build Simpplr into a company of consequence.
We couldn’t do it without you.
I wake up grateful and feel so fortunate to have shared the Simpplr journey with so many kind and smart people. When Piyush Rajput and I founded this business a decade ago, we dreamt of making it a company of consequence. I have learned that doing that takes a lot of passion, focus and ingenuity, and it comes with the guidance of others.
You’ll often find a stack of books* in my office, works that have profoundly shaped my leadership philosophy. As Jim Collins writes in Good to Great, “Great vision without great people is irrelevant.” This insight and the many others given by these incredible authors have been instrumental in guiding me at Simpplr.
I have also learned from many Simpplifiers and am reminded of some core lessons that have shaped our path. I don’t just read or believe in these principles. I have lived them. I see them come to life every day at Simpplr.
Lesson 1: The power of a mission
Our mission is our foundation. I’ve always known that most people seek to be part of something bigger than themselves. Our focus on mission has allowed us to draw in exceptional talent and cultivate a deep sense of teamwork. I always hoped when we started Simpplr 10 years ago, it would be like this. I never anticipated the peaks and valleys that would come on this journey.
And as we celebrate a decade of Simpplr, I am so grateful that our mission remains a constant beacon.
The opportunity and challenge inspire me. They get me up every morning focused on doing things well, trying new ideas, and keeping things simple. And it’s the people behind the mission that have kept the work interesting. One of my most important lessons is balancing decisions with heart and head.
Lesson 2: It’s all about the PPL
Most people are inherently good. To build a company of consequence, you need the right people in the right roles. They must have the right skills at the right time. They also need the right perspective as the culture changes, because it will change.
As the scale of Simpplr has changed, so too have our people’s needs. Some are great at building. Others are great at scaling and operating. But, as a startup grows into a company of consequence, many must be adept at both. I’m reminded of this line from Unleashed: “Deep devotion, high standards.” It’s crucial to hire well, take the time, and maintain high standards.
The top job for any leader is caring for their people.
Yet, it can require making tough choices. For instance, letting people go is one of the most difficult aspects of the job. This speaks to the balance needed in building and maintaining a solid team. Surrounding yourself with people smarter and more capable than you is invaluable. The Simpplr team is the perfect example of that. True success requires the right team — and a successful team lives the mission.
Lesson 3: The essence of work culture
In the last decade, I’ve heard people define company culture in different ways. For me, it’s simple: Culture is in an organization’s inner workings. It’s shown in the tolerance for risk and experimentation.
After 10 years, I see that we must honor the original pieces of our culture as we grow.
I know how important it is to honor the past while making room for the future. Culture ebbs and flows with the people. And we must nurture and support those who most embody our culture. I can see the impact of many Simpplifiers (past and present) threaded throughout Simpplr’s culture.
As Jim Collins says in Good to Great, “A culture of discipline is not a principle of business; it is a principle of greatness.”
Lesson 4: The power of disciplined focus
Simpplr would not have made it a decade without discipline on this journey — knowing when to say yes, when to say no, and when to say maybe. Startups have few resources. Trying to do everything makes them mediocre.
I’ve learned that to succeed, we must focus on what matters most and stay dedicated to our goals.
This approach drives our innovation and growth. It helps us progress while staying true to our mission. Discipline applies to our inner focus and external relationships. We must be disciplined in our operations to drive growth and innovation; we must also be discerning in our partnerships and with our customers.
Lesson 5: They invest in us, we invest in them
When you’re obsessed with customers, you’re critical about which customers you take on. To get where we are, we’ve had to be uncompromising in assessing when our product is the right fit. And we must be honest when we aren’t. I’ve seen the right customers become true ambassadors for the brand. I’ve also seen the wasted effort and impact on our reputation when we’ve made a bad choice.
I am clear that the only way Simpplr can succeed is to be as invested in a customer’s employees as our own.
That is why we dedicate our time and resources to putting them first. I’ve learned that partnering with customers to hear their feedback and explore their ideas is the only way to understand their needs.
This next lesson has come recently, after 10 years of relentless building.
Lesson 6: Finding balance
“Fill your bowl to the brim, and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife, and it will blunt.” This ancient wisdom from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu (Stephen Mitchell translation) encourages balance and moderation. I’ve learned that both balance and moderation are essential to well-being. Learning this has come with some hard personal lessons. My bowl has overflowed at times, wasting the goodness within it. I now understand how important it is to rest and restore. And how important it is to encourage the PPL of Simpplr to do the same. We’re here for the long haul.
Caring for ourselves and others must be woven into an organization.
Lesson 7: Paying it forward
Companies are built with the help of many, often those not directly connected to the organization. People who have no formal ties as employees, investors or customers. Their support, given with pure intentions and without expectations, has been instrumental in getting us where we are today. We must remember this and strive to do the same.
Whenever and if we can, we should help others.
It’s a responsibility we carry forward to support others as we were supported.
Cheers to the next 10 years
I am so grateful to everyone who has been part of the Simpplr journey. To our friends and investors who believe in us, family who support us, and customers who motivate us: thank you. And to the Simpplifiers (past and present) whose commitment and efforts are the foundation of our achievements.
As we look to the future, I am hopeful about what’s to come. We have groundbreaking features and innovations on the way that will continue to set us apart. Our commitment to improving the employee experience is as strong as ever, and I am confident that the best is yet to come.
*Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell, Good to Great and Great by Choice, Unleashed by Frances Frei, The Advantage, Change the Culture — Change the Game, and CEO Excellence.
