Coowoolf Give Away Your Legos
"If you really want to take advantage, both learning to give away what you've gotten good at and move on to the next shiny pile of Legos." — Molly Graham
What It Is
In scaling companies, jobs are like piles of Legos. Once you build a tower (master a role), you must give it to someone else and move on to a bigger, messier pile. Holding onto your old role buries you; giving it away allows you to tackle bigger challenges.
When To Use
- Company is doubling in size
- Feeling territorial about a new hire taking responsibilities
- Sensing career stagnation despite company growth
- Need to evaluate if you're scaling with the company
Core Principles
1. Scale Yourself
You must grow as fast as the company or you become obsolete.
2. Embrace the New Mess
Moving to a new, undefined problem is a promotion, not a demotion.
3. Manage "Bob"
Externalize your ego/fear (name it "Bob"). Wait 2 weeks before acting on negative emotions about change.
The Mental Model
CAREER PROGRESSION IN HYPERGROWTH:
Year 1: Build a house 🏠
→ Master the role
Year 2: Give away the house
→ Hire someone to own it
→ Move to building a neighborhood 🏘️
Year 3: Give away the neighborhood
→ Move to building a city 🌆
How To Apply
STEP 1: Identify Your "Tower"
└── What are you really good at now?
└── What would a new hire do if they had your job?
STEP 2: Hire Your Replacement
└── Recruit someone who can own this
└── Train them to be better than you at it
STEP 3: Find the Next Mess
└── What's broken that no one owns?
└── What would you do if you were "re-hired" today?
STEP 4: Wait 2 Weeks Before Complaining
└── Notice the "Bob" voice of ego
└── Let emotions settle before judging
Common Mistakes
❌ Believing you are the only person who can do a specific task
❌ Viewing handover as a loss of status
❌ Staying in a comfortable role while the company outgrows you
Real-World Example
At Facebook, Graham had to re-hire herself every 3 weeks, eventually moving from HR to Mobile—a role she was unqualified for but learned by diving into the mess.
Source: Molly Graham, Lenny's Podcast