The Wick Effect
What Software Founders Can Learn from John Wick and Keanu Reeves
Software founders navigate a complex landscape of challenges, from funding to product development to market competition.
While traditional business literature offers valuable guidance, sometimes the most profound insights come from unexpected sources.
This article explores what software entrepreneurs can learn from both the fictional character John Wick and the real-life actor who portrays him, Keanu Reeves.
The Duality of Expertise
John Wick, the legendary assassin known as "Baba Yaga," represents the pinnacle of professional excellence.
His reputation precedes him - when his name is mentioned, even hardened criminals respond with fear and respect.
As Viggo Tarasov explains in the first film, "John is a man of focus, commitment, and sheer will... something you know very little about."
This reputation wasn't built overnight but through years of disciplined practice and consistent delivery.
Similarly, software founders must develop deep expertise in their domain.
The most successful tech entrepreneurs often combine technical knowledge with business acumen. Bill Gates, for instance, wasn't just a programmer; he understood software licensing and business strategy.
Steve Jobs wasn't just a visionary; he grasped the importance of design and user experience.
Keanu Reeves mirrors this dedication to craft in his professional life.
For the John Wick films, Reeves underwent extensive firearms training, judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and tactical training, performing approximately 90% of his own stunts.
This commitment to authenticity translates directly to the screen, creating a more believable character.
Source : Screen Rant, January 2024
Establishing Clear Rules and Systems
The John Wick universe operates within a highly structured system governed by strict rules.
The Continental Hotel serves as neutral ground where "business" cannot be conducted.
All transactions are made with special gold coins.
Breaking these rules has severe consequences, as demonstrated when John Wick is excommunicated after killing a man on Continental grounds in "John Wick: Chapter 2," resulting in a $14 million bounty on his head and losing all access and privileges to Continental services.
For software founders, establishing clear systems, processes, and principles is crucial.
Companies like Basecamp (formerly 37signals) have thrived by creating and adhering to specific methodologies.
Their approach to product development, remote work, and customer service follows consistent principles that guide decision-making throughout the organization.
The Power of Minimalism
John Wick accomplishes extraordinary feats with minimal resources.
He can dispatch a room full of armed adversaries with nothing more than a pencil, as recounted by Viggo: "I once saw him kill three men in a bar with a pencil... with a f***ing pencil."
This resourcefulness under constraint is a powerful lesson.
In software development, constraints often breed innovation.
The most elegant solutions aren't always the most complex or expensive.
Instagram launched with a small team and limited funding but focused on doing one thing exceptionally well.
As Mike Krieger, co-founder of Instagram, noted, "You don't need to have everything figured out. Just stay focused on what matters most."
Keanu Reeves demonstrates this minimalist philosophy in his personal life as well.
Despite his success, Reeves is known for living relatively modestly, often taking public transportation and sharing his wealth with film crews and charitable causes.
This focus on essentials rather than excess allows him to direct his energy toward what truly matters.
Resilience and Adaptability
Perhaps the most striking quality of John Wick is his indomitable resilience.
He endures countless injuries throughout the films yet continues his mission.
Even when severely wounded, he adapts his fighting style and tactics to compensate for his limitations.
Similarly, software founders must develop resilience in the face of setbacks.
The startup landscape is littered with pivots, failures, and reinventions.
Slack began as a failed gaming company before becoming one of the most successful communication platforms.
Stewart Butterfield, Slack's co-founder, has emphasized the importance of resilience: "If you're going to start a company, you need to be comfortable with failure."
Building Meaningful Relationships
Despite his reputation as a lone assassin, John Wick's effectiveness stems partly from his network.
Throughout the films, he calls upon various allies - from the hotel manager Winston to the Bowery King - who provide crucial assistance.
These relationships are based on mutual respect and past favors, creating a web of obligation and trust.
For software founders, building a strong network is equally vital.
From investors to advisors to early employees, these relationships provide support, expertise, and opportunities. Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder, famously said, "The fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be."
Keanu Reeves's reputation for kindness and generosity has created a similar network of goodwill in Hollywood.
Colleagues consistently praise his work ethic and humility.
Director Chad Stahelski notes, "He's the hardest working actor I've ever worked with."
This reputation has opened doors and created opportunities that might not otherwise exist.
The Importance of Personal Code
John Wick lives by a strict personal code.
Even as an assassin, he follows principles that guide his actions.
When he comes out of retirement in the first film, it's not merely for revenge but because his sense of personal dignity and respect was violated.
For software founders, having clear personal values that inform business decisions is crucial.
Reed Hastings of Netflix created a corporate culture deck that explicitly outlined the company's values and expectations, famously stating, "Our culture focuses on helping us achieve excellence."
This clarity of purpose and principle helps navigate complex ethical decisions and build trust with customers and employees.
The Value of Preparation
John Wick leaves nothing to chance.
Before a major confrontation, he meticulously prepares - gathering weapons, studying the terrain, and anticipating potential challenges.
This preparation gives him an edge even when outnumbered.
Software founders who succeed tend to demonstrate similar thoroughness.
Jeff Bezos is known for his "six-page memo" approach to meetings at Amazon, where detailed written analyses are prepared in advance and read silently at the beginning of meetings.
This preparation ensures that discussions are substantive and decisions are well-informed.
Legacy and Purpose
Beyond immediate objectives, both John Wick and Keanu Reeves demonstrate an awareness of legacy.
For Wick, this involves honuoring commitments and maintaining integrity within his world.
For Reeves, it includes supporting causes like cancer research (after his sister's diagnosis) and maintaining a grounded perspective despite his fame.
Software founders should similarly consider the broader impact of their work.
Microsoft's Bill Gates has transitioned to philanthropy, focusing on global health and education. Through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he has applied his problem-solving abilities to some of the world's most pressing challenges.
Conclusion
The lessons from John Wick and Keanu Reeves offer software founders a unique perspective on excellence, resilience, and purpose.
By embracing expertise, establishing clear systems, practicing minimalism, building resilience, nurturing relationships, maintaining personal codes, preparing thoroughly, and considering legacy, entrepreneurs can navigate the complex challenges of building successful software companies.
Like John Wick emerging from retirement with renewed purpose, software founders must find the internal drive that sustains them through inevitable setbacks.
And like Keanu Reeves bringing authenticity to his roles, they must approach their ventures with genuine passion and commitment.
In the words often attributed to Marcus Aurelius (though actually from the movie "Gladiator"): "What we do in life echoes in eternity."
For software founders, the impact of their creations may indeed echo far beyond their immediate horizon.
Source : GQ, May 2019
References
John Wick. Dir. Chad Stahelski. Summit Entertainment, 2014. Film.
Guerrasio, Jason. "How the 'John Wick' sequel successfully expanded the movie's mythology." Business Insider, 2017.
John Wick: Chapter 2. Dir. Chad Stahelski. Summit Entertainment, 2017. Film.
Krieger, Mike. "Instagram Co-Founder Mike Krieger on Scaling Instagram." First Round Review, 2019.
Pasquini, Maria. "Keanu Reeves Has Been Secretly Donating to Children's Hospitals for Years." People Magazine, 2019.
Dockterman, Eliana. "John Wick Fights Like a Video Game Character. That's Why the Movies Are So Good." Time Magazine, 2019.
Butterfield, Stewart. "We Don't Sell Saddles Here." Medium, 2014.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. Dir. Chad Stahelski. Summit Entertainment, 2019. Film.
Hoffman, Reid. "The Start-up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career." Crown Business, 2012.
Setoodeh, Ramin. "How Keanu Reeves Became 'The One'." Variety, 2019.
Patches, Matt. "The Spiritual Crisis of John Wick." Polygon, 2019.
Hastings, Reed. "Netflix Culture: Freedom & Responsibility." Netflix Jobs, 2009.
Fear, David. "Keanu Reeves: 'Grief and Loss, Those Things Don't Ever Go Away'." Rolling Stone, 2019.
Stone, Brad. "The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon." Little, Brown and Company, 2013.
Seemayer, Zach. "Keanu Reeves' Tragic Past: How He Has Endured the Unimaginable." Entertainment Tonight, 2019.
Gates, Bill. "Prepared Remarks: 2019 Annual Letter." Gates Notes, 2019.
Why did I write this post ? I am fascinated by startups and embrace the whole process that a founder embarks upon post their initial epiphany or eureka moment, i.e. idea 💡 when they discover a problem they feel obsessed to solve for the world. However, I personally have to confess, as a recovering Founder, Co-Founder and supporting multiple Founders, Co-Founders, Leadership teams of startups across the world 🌍 have noticed, depending on interestingly the individuals age or experience or both, an amazing variety of lens and perspectives on how best to address the item discussed above 👶. I have admired the work of Keanu Reeves since his first film, One Step Away in 1985, through Bill & Ted’s Adventures, Point Break with Patrick Swayze, The Matrix to the John Wick series. Always amazing, always thoughtful and impactful. So I felt compelled to write about how John Wick [his latest character as an assassin] and his alter ego [or is it the other way around] Keanu Reeves lives day to day and embraces a life that is legendary and admired the world over. More on my thoughts on this topic later.
If you liked this post then please subscribe and follow me here as I also will continue to import episodes of my podcast, The G&T Sessions into the future. You can also follow me on X here https://www.x.com/andrewjturner and if you would like to subscribe directly to my podcast here https://www.linktr.ee/thegtsessions
Ciao for now