Paul Graham—Hackers, Good Taste, Founder Mode

When Paul Graham writes an essay, everyone in the tech world drops what they are doing to read it. This was on full display this past week with his new essay, Founder Mode. In fact, at the time of writing this, his tweet linking his essay was seen by over 21 million people.

That’s a lot of eyeballs, but this newsletter is not about Founder Mode.

I’ve always heard about Paul Graham’s views on art and creativity, so I figured it was time to explore his thoughts on creativity and how it can help creative professionals.

As the co-founder of Y Combinator, Paul Graham has helped shape the startup ecosystem we all know today. He is now at a level where his essays have a huge impact on the entire tech industry.

A case of “the pen essay is mightier than the sword code?” Maybe? I don't know. I'm still workshopping that one.

Let's dive into his creative principles and discover how they can reshape your creative process:

Core Creative Principles of Paul Graham

Blow-Up Ideas: Graham encourages taking a tiny spark of an idea and "blowing it up" into something massive. Think big, bold, and beyond the obvious to unlock your idea’s true potential. No small thinking allowed.

Mastery Through Deep Understanding: According to Graham, the secret sauce to creativity is deep knowledge. The more you dive into a subject, the more those juicy connections form, leading to some next-level innovation.

Hackers Are Painters: Hackers are basically the painters of the digital world. Coding, like art, is just as much a creative process. So, whether you're wielding a brush or a keyboard, you're creating something from scratch.

Walking and Thinking: One of Graham’s go-to hacks for idea generation is... walking. Yep, a simple stroll can free up your brain for those “a-ha” moments.

Applying Graham’s Creative Strategies:

🚀 Creative Habit: Blow Up Ideas

Paul Graham believes that most ideas can be bigger than we initially think. Instead of stopping at the first version of an idea, he encourages people to explore its full potential by asking, "How can this idea be more impactful?"

Try this:

I love this idea of blowing up ideas. Often, creative people get so inside their own heads that they sometimes miss the forest for the trees. Creativity in the right environment has the potential to create a huge impact. Think about Lee Clow’s Think Different campaign in last week’s newsletter. That now has a long-lasting cultural impact.

Take an idea you’re working on and expand it. Ask yourself, "How can this idea reach a broader audience or solve a larger problem?" Push its boundaries and explore new angles.

This is one I want to take to heart and think about.

🖥️ Hackers and Painters: Code as Art

Creativity in Code: 

In his famous essay Hackers and Painters, Graham compares programmers to painters, arguing that both engage in creative processes. He sees writing code as an art form, where innovation and creativity go hand in hand with technical skill.

Pro tip: 

Embrace the creative aspects of technical work. Whether you’re coding, designing, or writing, approach your craft as a form of artistic expression, blending precision with innovation.

Here are some tips to expand your ideas:

• Pull inspiration from other fields: Cross-industry ideas, like borrowing design elements from fashion or architecture, can inject fresh life into traditional tech or service-based projects.

• Experiment with new platforms: Try promoting your project in a way you haven’t before, using mediums like interactive experiences or even gamified elements.

• Use storytelling to challenge norms: Look beyond your product and focus on the lifestyle or values your audience cherishes. Craft a story around that narrative to create deeper connections.

🧠 Mindset Matters: Mastery Leads to Creativity

Master Your Craft:
Graham emphasizes that the best creative ideas come from a deep understanding of a subject. The more you know, the more your creativity will flourish. It’s not just about sudden bursts of inspiration—it’s about knowledge-driven insight.

Action step:
Choose an area of your work to master: design, copywriting, video editing, etc., and focus on setting a specific time every day to work on that craft.

Ex: I set an hour a day to work on side projects that allow me to practice writing.

It sounds cliche, but getting 1% better each day really helps you become an expert in that field.

📚 Book Spotlight: "Hackers & Painters: Big Ideas from the Computer Age” by Paul Graham

Why you should read it: 

This collection of essays dives into the sweet spot where art, tech, and creativity collide, showing creative how real innovation happens when you make those unexpected, out-of-the-box connections.

The analogy between hackers and painters is at the core of Graham’s take on programming. It weaves through the rest of the book, shaping how he thinks about software development and startups—where creativity meets code, and artistry drives innovation.

Key takeaway: 

"The way to get new ideas is to notice anomalies..." This emphasizes the importance of observing the unusual as a source of creativity.

📝 Weekly Challenge: Blow Up an Idea

Paul Graham's belief in "blowing up ideas" shows us that what may seem small at first can evolve into something far more impactful. Take one of your current projects—whether it’s a campaign, product, or strategy—and challenge yourself to expand it.

Ask: How can it be bigger? More innovative?

🛠️ Tool of the Week: Miro

Expand Your Ideas with Miro 

Miro is a visual collaboration platform that allows you to brainstorm and "blow up" ideas, helping you see the bigger picture in your projects, just as Graham suggests.

Pro tip: 

Use Miro’s mind-mapping feature to explore different dimensions of a single idea, encouraging expansion and fresh perspectives.

That's a wrap for the week! 

Would love to hear from our readers!
Reply to this email and share how you're expanding your ideas and challenging norms in your projects.

Sources: 

• Is There Such a Thing as Good Taste

• How Art Can Be Good

If this newsletter inspired you or gave you new ideas, pass it along to a friend, colleague, or fellow creative in the industry. It would mean the world.

-Joey