I mean when you are a startup and can't make decent payments as salaries, can one really expect the developer to be passionate? Or maybe it's because I am based out of a third world country where salary trumps everything. Or am I dealing with the wrong set of people.
Ask HN: Is passion a fair thing to ask for from an employee?
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Re: Ask HN: Is passion a fair thing to ask for from an employee?
#2I think it's probably a required thing for every employee.
Re: Ask HN: Is passion a fair thing to ask for from an employee?
#3I don't see why you'd be looking for/want co-founders/initial employees that aren't passionate :P.
Re: Ask HN: Is passion a fair thing to ask for from an employee?
#4Passion isn't something your employees can just choose to give you once asked, but it is something you can choose to give them by providing a meaningful purpose, the opportunity to learn new things, and the freedom to do great work.
Re: Ask HN: Is passion a fair thing to ask for from an employee?
#5[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Is passion a fair thing to ask for from an employee?
#6I think it's probably a required thing for every employee.
I know. But is it really true, I fail to understand how a developer can be passionate about some business and yet launch 2-5 products a year. Is that passion for the business/ industry or passion to develop skills?
Most of the good programmers do it, right? Work on 4 products a year in multiple industries.
Should you hire someone who is passionate about the cause or one who is passionate about code(read growth/career)
Re: Ask HN: Is passion a fair thing to ask for from an employee?
#7You can't ask for passion from an employee unless you are giving them a meaningful equity stake or paying above market rates. Quite frankly, if you dont give a good stake or a great salary, employees won't naturally feel like going the extra mile.
In my experience, most employees feel that pushing themselves won't actually accrete any value to themselves, and that really kills any sort of passion.
Re: Ask HN: Is passion a fair thing to ask for from an employee?
#8* If you want low performance, give me low money.
* If you want high performance, give me high money.
* If you want loyalty/passion, give me equity/profit sharing.
You can buy my performance i.e. time with money. You can buy my passion i.e. commitment with reciprocation. If you give me typical market wages without profit sharing, don't expect anything beyond typical performance without commitment.
Re: Ask HN: Is passion a fair thing to ask for from an employee?
#9I was passionate for a previous employer, but they burned it out of me. Their inability to make decisions and leaps necessary to really be successful ate away at me. Those things affected me personally, and as an employee, that just can't happen. It's not worth it.
Re: Ask HN: Is passion a fair thing to ask for from an employee?
#10Passion isn't something your employees can just choose to give you once asked, but it is something you can choose to give them by providing a meaningful purpose, the opportunity to learn new things, and the freedom to do great work.
> Passion isn't something your employees can just choose to give you once asked
funny many organizations extort that level of commitment from its workers. for a short time "obey me or get fired" may work, but in long term it'll kill the workspace morale, motivation and innovation.