The Long Now of Progress

Why the most meaningful work often outlives us

Welcome to Frank Takeaways. I'm Frank, writing the notes worth keeping from decades at companies like Slack, Etsy, and Google. I run a coaching practice dedicated to guiding leaders through the tricky stuff of building products and high-performing teams.

Join my referral program and earn 1:1 coaching sessions by sharing Frank Takeaways with others - start with just three referrals.
—

Some of the most important work you'll ever do won't be recognized in your tenure. In fact, its full impact might not be realized until long after you've left. What if the progress you fight for today is only fully realized by people you'll never meet?

"We can do better than 91 percent, but 91 percent is not a failure. It's progress," Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan said. "And government is about the increments by which you move toward goals you desire."

If you've worked with me for any length of time, chances are you've heard me say it. At least once, probably multiple times. I don’t need much — just the smal…