Sachin Monga
Pay The Principle Tax Or Pay Forever
Inspired by Sachin Monga episode
Substack picked principles over shortcuts—manual recommendations instead of algorithms. Harder path, better outcome. At the playground, you're facing the same choice: stick to principles or buy cooperation with ice cream.
When Substack built recommendations, the shortcut was right there: algorithmic suggestions. Proven playbook, ships faster, requires less user effort. But it violated their principle about writer control. So they picked the harder path and it's now their most successful feature.
Your kid refuses to leave the playground. The shortcut is gleaming in your mind like a beacon: "I'll get you ice cream if you leave right now." Problem solved in five seconds. Everyone's happy. You're a genius.
The principle path is standing there while they melt down. You're down at their level going "I know, I know" while they scream like you've committed a war crime by suggesting it's time to go home. Other parents are staring. You're doing the emotional labor of staying calm while they rage. This is taking 15 minutes. The ice cream would've taken five seconds.
But the ice cream shortcut teaches them cooperation is for sale. Six months from now you're negotiating with a tiny extortionist over shoes, teeth brushing, literally everything. They've learned that principles don't matter if they hold out long enough. The shortcut was expensive. You just pay later with interest.
