Contemplating the floating of things
"We must obey the forces we wish to command" (F.Bacon)
In 1620, Francis Bacon publishes his philosophical work Novum Organum Scientiarum ('new instrument of science' ).
He details a new system of logic he believes to be superior to the old ways — against the Aristotelian approach to science through logic and deductive reasoning alone.
He argues a different approach is needed given the weakness of the human mind and it's natural biases (he lists the Idols of the Mind in his work; today we'd call them cognitive biases ).
According to Bacon, inductive reasoning will allow humanity to uncover the essence of things. His method relies on systematic observation of cases, engagement of the senses, and artificial experimentation to provide additional observance of a phenomenon and it's causes.
About induction
"The law of floatation was not discovered by contemplating the sinking of things, but by contemplating the floating of things which floated naturally, and then intelligently asking why they did so." (Thomas Troward)
Until mid 19th century, most boats were made of natural material, essentially wood — as men observed wood float in nature. Bacon's emphasis on inductive reasoning, rather than pure deduction, allowed for the evolution of fields like naval architecture, where practical experimentation and observation led to new innovations.
The naval engineering techniques have evolved with the understanding and mastery of the laws of gravity, buoyancy, hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, density, etc…
With new materials provided by industrial revolutions (iron, steel, lately kevlar) and contemporary computer-aided design, it has been made possible to design more performant naval structures. Interestingly, until recently, naval architecture has been more of a craft than a science: the "fair shape" of vessels was judged by looking at half models or prototypes ie. through past knowledge and experimentation rather than by logic and deduction alone.
Therefore, today it's totally understandable to see the proliferation of Uber for X, Airbnb for X business ideas (see article here) ). It's in human nature.
Nevertheless, just like there a difference between a floating piece of wood and a boat, there's a difference between applying the concept of Airbnb and Uber to a different industry and understanding and mastering the underlying business forces at play that make Airbnb or Uber successful.
Bacon argues man cannot subtract himself from the forces at play in Nature ("we must obey the forces…"), nevertheless he has the opportunity to harness them ("we want to command") when he gains a deep understanding of their effects.
Obey the forces you wish to command
The same way aspiring entrepreneurs & startup leadership cannot subtract themselves from the Market forces at play (value creation, strategy, operations, unique capabilities, business model, scaling laws, ….), they need to understand and master them to harness sustainable growth.
"It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow." (Robert. H.Goddard)
The first theoretical proposal of space travel was published by William Leitch, astronomer and mathematician in 1861. It became an engineering possibility with the work of Robert. H. Goddardin 1919.
Two of his 214 patented inventions were instrumental to making spaceflight possible (multi-stage rocket and rocket fuel, 1914). He designed and elaborated an engine powerful enough to escape Earth gravity, or a vessel that could perform in a vacuum such as that in space.
Astrodynamics, or orbital mechanics governs the motion of rockets and spacecrafts. These mechanics are calculated from Newton's law of motion and Newton's Law of universal gravitation. Therefore spaceflight was made possible by the thorough understanding and mastery of existing and identified physical laws.
Similarly, for startups to scale successfully, they need to be able to design their multi-stage rocket to extract them from idea stage and propel them in business orbit: a 6 stage rocket to be precise.
Build Your Rocket First
The six stages of a successful startup rocket are: 1) Ideation and Validation, 2) MVP Development, 3) Early Traction, 4) Scaling, 5) Optimization, and 6) Maturity. Each stage requires mastering the underlying forces at play, whether it's market dynamics, operational efficiency, or financial sustainability.
Just as Goddard's innovations enabled space travel, startups must engineer their own multi-stage rockets to break free of gravity and achieve liftoff in the competitive business landscape. Understanding and harnessing these forces is crucial for sustainable growth. Each phase demands careful attention to detail and adaptability—validating hypotheses early prevents costly mistakes, while scaling requires robust infrastructure and team dynamics. Optimization focuses on refining processes for efficiency, and maturity involves sustaining competitive advantage amidst evolving markets. Like mastering astrodynamics, founders must continuously learn and adjust, relying on data-driven insights and strategic foresight. Ultimately, success hinges on respecting intrinsic forces, embracing experimentation, and persistently innovating to navigate the complex startup ecosystem.
originally posted on Medium (2015)
