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How to Survive an Acquisition

charity.wtf

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Re: How to Survive an Acquisition

#2
"Surviving," "Trauma," "Shock","Dismay" ?

I've founded a company through an acquisition and led mobile for another. Life was definitely much much better before the acquisitions. But the perception that it's anything but a first world first world problem ... is a bit misleading and entitled.

Re: How to Survive an Acquisition

#3
post #2

"Surviving," "Trauma," "Shock","Dismay" ? I've founded a company through an acquisition and led mobile for another. Life was definitely much much better before the acquisitions. But the perception that it's anything but a first world first world problem ... is a bit misleading and entitled.

That's a very dismissive attitude toward real emotional attachments. The loss of something you've poured your life into can genuinely be traumatic, shocking, and dismaying.

I don't like the notion of applying the "first-world problem" dismissal to things that aren't trivialities. It's one thing to laugh about how you have to get up from the couch to get a remote. It's another thing entirely to talk about major changes to one's career, wiping away years of their work, or the loss of something they care deeply about as a "first-world problem".

Sure, getting acquired might be a "good problem to have", but it doesn't make its toll any less real.

Re: How to Survive an Acquisition

#4
> One of Facebook’s internal slogans is something like “always do what’s best for Facebook”.

Is that real? Like they really have this slogan that like comes straight out of a modern interpretation of Marx's theory of alienation shoved right into their employees faces?

http://i.imgur.com/oVb4J0b.png

Re: How to Survive an Acquisition

#5
post #2

"Surviving," "Trauma," "Shock","Dismay" ? I've founded a company through an acquisition and led mobile for another. Life was definitely much much better before the acquisitions. But the perception that it's anything but a first world first world problem ... is a bit misleading and entitled.

I guess as a founder you were rewarded when it came to being acquired. I am not sure what position OP had but I think it accurately conveys feelings of any ordinary (but loyal) employee.

Re: How to Survive an Acquisition

#6
post #4

> One of Facebook’s internal slogans is something like “always do what’s best for Facebook”. Is that real? Like they really have this slogan that like comes straight out of a modern interpretation of Marx's theory of alienation shoved right into their employees faces? http://i.imgur.com/oVb4J0b.png

It really does explain a lot though. This is why, when down the road Facebook needs to make revenue or suffer the wrath of investors, your personal life will become their cash machine. This is already true; just wait, it can get much worse than it is now.

Re: How to Survive an Acquisition

#8
post #7

Since they covered up all the pages stating what parse is and does, can someone tell me here. What is parse? And what is it used for?

Parse is a backend as a service provider -- originally for mobile apps, but eventually for all kinds of applications. You could store data, manage users, target and send push notifications, gather analytics, etc., all without having to build your own backend.

Re: How to Survive an Acquisition

#9
> Assume good intent. Aggressively assume good intent.

I can't account for anyone else, but my experience says the exact opposite. Most of the acquisitions I've seen, are because the acquiring company wants IP/contracts/some other good that they can't build themselves. Once they have that, the employees are on the short-list.

Obviously every acquisition is different, and should be judged by it's own circumstances, but, having been on both sides of the equation, I'd recommend being skeptical of everything they do. It is hard to do that without becoming toxic, however.

Re: How to Survive an Acquisition

#10
Founder is so far from employee it's ridiculous you even comment.

It's sad that most founders don't care or don't understand that sometimes they managed to hire people that actually care about the business, and could have helped make it better.

When I see a founder sell his business, all I ever think is (as I'm sure most do), what a selfish asshole.

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