Surface Area

On a recent X Spaces with Daylight Co-Founder & CEO Jason Badeaux we touched on the concept of “getting on the plane.” More specifically, the idea that you need to give yourself the opportunity – taking advantage of those that you knew existed – while also allowing for serendipitous moments. Of course, this is a topic that frequently comes up in sales, but I also like to tie it to another subject which I increasingly think about: surface area.

Surface area takes many specific shapes, but at its lowest common denominator, I define it as the area of opportunity. In startups, surface area is our field of play where things can go right. If we think, speak, build, and operate with maximizing surface area in mind – creating as big of a goal for us to shoot on.

The second order of surface area is the probability of success. If surface area is the possibility that things can go right, how do we create success? As founders this can be insights into a market, distribution channels, or solving for a real problem. With a focus on creating as much surface area as possible, this can also come from multiple shots on goal – giving ourselves opportunities for success.

In a world where so much has to go right for breakout success, the concept of surface area at least gives us something to aim for.