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Discover how Jeff Bezos turned a DIY desk into a powerful symbol of frugality and a cornerstone of Amazon’s culture.

In Episode 244 of Anecdotally Speaking, Shawn shares a short but powerful story from Amazon’s early days, where Jeff Bezos, faced with the need for desks, opted to build his own using doors and timber.

What started as a simple, frugal choice became a lasting cultural symbol at Amazon, representing the company’s deep commitment to frugality and customer focus.

Mark and Shawn explore how seemingly small decisions can embed values more effectively than posters or mission statements.

They also touch on how values often emerge from behaviour, and how symbols like the door desk can shape and sustain a company’s identity.

For your story bank

Tags: Frugality, Amazon, Culture, Storytelling, Values, Leadership, Values in Action

This story starts at 2:18

In 1995, during the very early days of Amazon, Jeff Bezos was setting up his new business—operating largely out of a garage. As part of getting the office up and running, he needed a couple of desks.

After heading down to Home Depot, Bezos found that the desks available were relatively expensive. Looking for a more economical solution, he realised he could simply buy a plain door, attach some 4×2 timber for legs using metal brackets, and create a functional desk at a fraction of the cost. So, that’s exactly what he did—personally assembling two makeshift desks from doors and timber.

Those early desks were far from perfect—employees later recalled them being a bit wobbly—but they served their purpose. More importantly, they became a lasting symbol within Amazon: a tangible representation of the principle of frugality.

The thinking was simple—money should be spent where it delivers value for the customer. A desk doesn’t impact the customer experience, so there’s no reason to spend lavishly on it. This mindset laid the foundation for a company-wide cultural norm.

In fact, the concept of the “door desk” became so influential that Amazon created a “Door Desk Award,” given to employees who devise clever, cost-effective solutions that benefit customers. Even today, many Amazon offices still feature these iconic door-based desks.

What started as a cost-saving measure grew into a powerful organisational symbol—embedding frugality not through slogans or posters, but through visible, everyday decisions. It’s a prime example of how culture is shaped not by what is said, but by what is done.