Jeff Bezos's Letters Part 2 - Culture of Builders

“...be kind, be original, create more than you consume, and never, never, never let the universe smooth you into your surroundings.”

The first half of Bezos’s letters were an education to Amazon's (AMZN) guiding principles. AMZN weathered two recessions during that period and Bezos shepherded shareholders to understand what AMZN was trying to become. There was a heavy emphasis on connecting the business results to financials. I found his tone changed in the second half. The financial performance gave way to teaching the results and process of the culture at AMZN. A culture of builders.

Though he continued to say it was always “Day 1” in most letters, the latter letters shouted like reminders they were far from done. Something shareholders might’ve gotten wary of as the company grew. It went from trying to teach shareholders “we weren’t crazy" to “if you thought this was nuts, we are going to do more so hold on”. 

“Day 2 is stasis. Followed by irrelevance. Followed by excruciating, painful decline. Followed by death. And that is why it is always Day 1.” - 2016 Letter

Some letters, like 2017, became long lists how AM…