Cinder blocks and the startup toolbox
When you’re camping—or in my case, camping a lot—the one thing you learn is that you can never have enough blocks. They’re lying by the trash or in some forgotten corner, and occasionally, yes, you "borrow" one (and someone else will probably borrow it from you). The blocks move around, filling gaps wherever they’re needed.
Startups operate in much the same way. You don’t always have the perfect tools lined up or a clean, pre-labeled path to follow. Instead, you find pieces—whether that’s a new framework, a key hire, or an emergent market opportunity—and stack them together to create something bigger, something functional. Product managers know this all too well. The MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is your foundation—your "cinder block"—to test, iterate, and refine.
The beauty of cinder blocks, though, isn’t just their flexibility. It’s also their durability. Use them for one thing today, and then tomorrow, they’re part of something else entirely. The same logic applies to the tools, processes, and teams you rely on to build a successful product or company.
Think like a builder
Entrepreneurs often fall into a trap of searching for silver bullets or "perfect" solutions. The hottest tech stack. A dream-team hire. A polished, everything-must-be-perfect product launch. But the truth is, real success comes from figuring out how to make the resources you already have work together, instead of waiting for the stars to align for the ideal setup.
Here’s what we can learn from cinder blocks:
- They’re resourceful. You don’t need a $100-million-dollar budget to create something that works. Sometimes, the rough-and-ready solutions are the best ones—whether it's a no-code tool to automate manual processes or an underutilized skill set within your current team. Look around, and you might have everything you need right in front of you.
- They’re multifunctional. A cinder block can be a stool, a grill stand, or a makeshift bookshelf. Similarly, in business, the best ROI often comes from investments that serve multiple purposes. That data pipeline you built for reporting? Use it to power customer personalization. That small, fast initiative that tested product interest? Build an entire use case around it.
- They’re stackable. Need a solid foundation? Start small. Add more over time. This applies to products as much as it does to teams. Test, iterate, grow. Be okay with making later adjustments to fit the next requirements—the blocks that come later.
- They’re independent, yet collaborative. No single cinder block will carry your entire setup, but together, they do the heavy lifting. Similarly, the components of your business—from individual team members to workflows—should complement each other and create collective strength.
Borrow, share, steal—Just don’t wait
One thing I’ve noticed out there camping? People collect their blocks from everywhere. You find them in random places, unused and overlooked, and sometimes you’re tempted to "borrow" one from a neighbor. But that’s not theft—that’s resource-sharing, right?
Startup culture thrives on that mindset. Look at where others are succeeding, and learn from it. Find underutilized methods or tools, and put them to good use. Borrow inspiration from one industry and apply it to your own. You don’t have to rebuild the wheel; you just need enough blocks to stack your way toward something that works for you.
Building with cinder blocks is building with purpose
Every product manager, founder, and executive worth their salt knows this truth deep down—success doesn’t come from fancy headline moments. It comes from the gritty work of taking raw materials and figuring out how they fit together. It’s about seeing the potential in what’s already there but hasn’t yet been put to use.
Cinder blocks are the legos of your adult, professional life. They aren’t flashy, but they’re practical. They aren’t perfect, but they’re enough. You’re never going to find yourself saying, “This one block solves all my problems!” But what you will find is a way to stack, build, and experiment until your vision becomes a reality.
Next time you’re tackling a project—whether you’re launching a new product, expanding your market, or revamping a process—ask yourself this question:
What "cinder blocks" do I already have at my disposal, and how can I use them to build something amazing?
If you start there, you're already halfway to building something remarkable.
Looking for a few more blocks to build your business? The team of strategist and designers at Meadowloop have just what you need. Contact us to see if we're a fit.
