Always Day One

Always Day One

How the Tech Titans Stay on Top

Summary

'A gangster read!' Scott Galloway, author of The Four

'A must-read!' Charles Duhigg, author of bestselling The Power of Habit

'The tech giants are far from perfect, but Always Day One reveals the inventive elements of their culture that entrepreneurs can and should learn from' Mark Cuban, serial entrepreneur, investor, and owner of the Dallas Mavericks

At Amazon, 'Day One' is code for inventing like a startup with little regard for legacy. Day Two is, in Jeff Bezos's own words, is 'stasis, followed by irrelevance, followed by excruciating, painful decline, followed by death.'

Most companies today are set up for Day Two. They build advantages and defend them fiercely rather than invent the future. But Amazon and fellow tech titans Facebook, Google, and Microsoft are operating in Day One: they prioritize reinvention over tradition and collaboration over ownership.

Through 130 interviews with insiders, from Mark Zuckerberg to hourly workers, Always Day One reveals the tech giants' blueprint for sustainable success. Kantrowitz uncovers the engine propelling the tech giants' continued dominance at a stage when most big companies begin to decline. And he shows the way forward for everyone who wants to compete with, and beat, the titans.

Reviews

  • The Tech Giants are far from perfect, but Always Day One reveals the inventive elements of their culture that entrepreneurs can and should learn from.
    Mark Cuban, serial entrepreneur, investor, and owner of the Dallas Mavericks

About the author

Alex Kantrowitz

Alex Kantrowitz is a senior technology reporter at BuzzFeed News and one of the ten most cited technology reporters in the world. His work has been referenced by dozens of major publications, from the New Yorker to the Wall Street Journal to Sports Illustrated. He is the founder of the tech publication and podcast Big Technology, which focuses on analysing tech giants. Kantrowitz is a graduate of Cornell University's College of Industrial and Labor Relations. This is his first book.
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