Why HubSpot Is a Field, Not a Factory

A few days ago I posted the following on HubSpot's internal wiki. I'm reposting it here for three reasons: (a) to share a few of the reasons I love working at HubSpot, (b) to add a bit to the excellent conversation Umair started and (c) to point out some of the things I think a growing company needs to do to be successful today.

Umair Haque, one of my favorite bloggers, has a great post this weekend about Leaders and Builders . I highly recommend it to all HubSpotters, and wanted to share some of the things it got me thinking about:

At HubSpot we talk a lot about changing the way companies do marketing -- and we're in the process doing exactly that. As we grow, I think we should also realize and focus on the fact that we're helping to change the way companies are built.

Think about the difference between HubSpot and companies that were built in the 20th Century. The GM's, Microsofts & P&Gs of the world are factories. They're rigid command and control hierarchies that don't encourage experimenting or innovating. HubSpot and other companies that are now changing the world (Google, Acmen Fund, Etsy, Amazon) are fields. Instead of enforcing a rigid hierarchy, we cultivate great people and empower them to do innovative, world-class work.

Why is the field better than the factory? Umair Haque's article  and blog archive spells that out. But here's what I think: Fields are more efficient for the shareholders, more rewarding for employees and better for the world.

Some examples of how we're a field:

All this is great, but it hasn't happened by accident, and it will be increasingly difficult to maintain. As we grow we need to be very focused on building a different kind of company.

Specifically, I think we need to focus on:

What do you guys think?

PS, if this kind of environment excites you, you should work at HubSpot.