Principles

These principles are not exhaustive, but are representative of the sort of work environment we want to exist in. This document will certainly evolve over time.

Speak candidly, and with self-awareness.

Ryan and I (Diego) get into arguments often, and out of those arguments have come some of our most important breakthroughs in thinking. If it wasn't for that tension, we'd be many months behind where we are today with the product — and if we ceased that dialogue, we won't make it very far. Candid thoughts are important for making sure our thinking is air-tight, and raising questions or issues goes both ways. There should never be a dynamic at NATION where it's only okay for a person to be questioned but not to question. And this applies up and down the ladder.

However, key to this is self-awareness. I have been overly harsh when I don't believe in an idea, and that's not productive, even if it pushes thinking forward. Similarly, if you don't have a clue about something, you should have the self-awareness (and candidness) to admit you're lacking in knowledge. This is key for a team like ours where half the team is primarily creative and the other half is primarily technical. We often lack each other's domain knowledge, and so should speak candidly across disciplines with many an ounce of humility about what we do/don't know about smart contracts or typography, for example.

Have initiative, always.

If you see a critical flaw in the product, make a PR and fix it immediately. If you notice a typo, find a way to get it fixed — it'll probably only take a few minutes. If you have an idea, sit down to write some notes, and share them in Slack.

Be multifaceted.

You should be connected to culture far outside of web3. Our team is made up of musicians, fine artists, poets, filmmakers, and more. We take inspiration from many places, and that's what will make our product unique over time.