Google never did any advertising. They're like dealers; they sell the stuff, but they know better than to use it themselves.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Google succeeds by selling services they do not rely on for their own core needs, avoiding conflicts of interest.
- In plain terms
- Google sells tools to others but does not depend on them for its own business.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid using your own products if it conflicts with your business model.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Should companies eat their own dog food?
- How do you avoid bias?
Another view
Sometimes using your own product is the best way to improve it.
More from Paul Graham
There are few sources of energy so powerful as a procrastinating grad student.
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