I’m the Founder of Scribd Trip Adler and This Is How I Work
We last spoke with Trip Adler in 2014 about Scribd ‘s expansion from a document hosting service to an ebook subscription service . Since then, Scribd has continued to grow. (And yes, it’s still useful, even if e-books from libraries exist ). We spoke with Adler about the binary path for startups, the opportunity for impromptu meetings, and his personal reading habits.
Location: San Francisco, California Current workplace: Scribd CEO Current mobile device: iPhone Current computer: Macbook Pro One word that best describes how you work: Decisively
First of all, tell us a little about your past and how you got where you are now.
I went to Harvard and had no idea what I wanted to do. I started to study biochemistry, and then I switched to biophysics, which gave me more opportunities for critical thinking – physics is great for this. But when it came to choosing a career after college, my dream was to start my own company. My co-founder and I went through about 10 different startup ideas before settling on Scribd. I loved Scribd’s bigger mission: to change the way people share the written word. Fortunately, the idea came up – we were able to raise venture capital quickly, and suddenly I was running the company.
Pretty soon I realized that the launch results are binary: you are either worth a fortune or you are not worth anything. So I just kept pushing and reinventing the company as needed until we were successful. It has been a longer journey than most people would expect – we have been around for 11 years, and it was only last year that we reached the point where we reached “escape speed,” or at least we seem to be pretty close to it. I think it really speaks to the power of persistence and faith in your idea.
Tell us about a recent work day.
It seems to me that my job changes every few months depending on the needs of the company, although as the company grows, it becomes more predictable. On average, I would say that my work is split roughly 50/50 between internal and external roles. Internally, I am focused on the strategy, product and culture of the company. Outwardly, I spend a lot of time working on deals with publishers and recruiting.
I try to keep my calendar open enough to give me time to think and take part in spontaneous meetings. Occasional free hour or special meetings have led to some big changes in the direction of the company, so I always try to make time for them.
What apps, gadgets or tools can’t you live without?
Gmail. Lots of Gmail.
How is your workplace arranged?
This is a fairly standard open office layout found at most tech companies. We simply reorganized the seating around “squads” – collections of teams focused on a single business goal – which was a big change in terms of communication. We have a common area where we accept three meals a day for employees. We also have a variety of games (including a pool table and a ping pong table). We also host a monthly series of ScribdChat contributors to this shared space.
How have your work habits changed over the years since your last interview with Lifehacker ?
Now I rely much more on other people. The company is now 3 times larger than it was then, which means that I do a lot less “work” personally and instead manage others who do the work. So, in my current role, I had to learn how to add value without going overboard and how to empower others to do their best.
What’s your best shortcut or life hack?
I turn off almost all push notifications on my phone and then check messages in batches. So, if it takes me a day to reply to your text message, here’s why. It helps me prioritize and manage my time — instead of spending all day responding to messages, I can focus and get things done.
Tell us about an interesting, unusual, or challenging process you have at work.
Once a month we have what we call “ScribdChats” where we bring a famous author of a new book into the office and talk to him about their latest work. This is a great way to take a break from everyday tasks and immerse yourself in the world of a writer, journalist, professor or biographer and meet new ideas.
Who are the people who help you achieve results, and how do you rely on them?
I am proud to say that we have hired a very smart, diverse and dedicated team, which, in my opinion, is the most important thing you can do. I rely on Scribd’s executive team and a wider team of over 140 people. It’s always amazing to me how much work is done every day.
How do you keep track of what you need to do?
I am using a draft to-do list in Gmail.
How to recharge or relax?
I surf and walk a lot. It is important for me to be constantly in nature, it helps me to maintain balance and happiness.
What’s your favorite side project?
My wife Sierra opened Hook & Scissor a few years ago. I was a proud investor and advisor. I never expected to end up in the hairdressing business, but working in such a different industry was fun and rewarding.
What are your own reading habits? What are you reading now or what do you recommend?
I read about one book a month, maybe a little more. In this era of constant bombardment of information, I find reading helps calm the mind. I read quite a lot on Scribd, but I still love to read printed books. More recently, I’ve discovered the benefits of audiobooks. It is pleasant to listen to them during morning trips.
I tend to gravitate towards non-fiction and business books, but sometimes I sneak into hilarious novels. I just finished listening to Ernest Kline’s Ready Player One . I loved the nostalgia and clever pop culture references. Would highly recommend it.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Empathy is everything: I work hard to internalize feedback and other points of view, especially if they are very different from my own thinking. This is one of the best ways to grow and shape your vision.
What problem are you still trying to solve?
I am still working on changing the way the world reads. If we can get the average person to read one more book a year, it will have a big positive impact on the world.