Why I Quit Google to Work for Myself
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Why I Quit Google to Work for Myself
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Re: Why I Quit Google to Work for Myself
#2Author here. Happy to answer any questions about the post or about my experience at Google.
Re: Why I Quit Google to Work for Myself
#3As someone who will be entering the industry, I loved your perspective on your job at Google. Also, having read Cal Newport's "So good that they can't ignore you", I couldn't help but notice the hunger for independence in good software developers. Would you recommend newcomers to join smaller unstable( more independence) companies or bigger, more stable( Top 4) companies(lesser independence)?
Re: Why I Quit Google to Work for Myself
#4Author here. Happy to answer any questions about the post or about my experience at Google.
I'm going to be applying there soon, 4 years into my career. It'll involve a loong move and big changes: what advice can you give someone who wants to spend a couple years (or more?) with the big G?
Also, any chance of submitting a referral? :)
Re: Why I Quit Google to Work for Myself
#5This covers a lot of the same ground as Brendan Reid's "Stealing the Corner Office"[1], which gives a playbook for helping stuff like this work in your favour, rather than against you.
You fit the profile of what Reid calls the "Smart but Stationary Manager" - a guy who is a lot smarter than a lot of the people who do get promoted, but who doesn't optimize for the right factors. Reid's point is that a lot of these guys get habitually overlooked as they optimize for the success of the company, rather than themselves, and assume they will be evaluated on their work alone.
The idea that when you go to work, you are there first and foremost to work on your own career development (rather than the goals of the company) crops up again and again. Even in failing companies, you see people make spectactular career gains.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stealing-Corner-Office-Strategies-B...
Re: Why I Quit Google to Work for Myself
#6Author here. Happy to answer any questions about the post or about my experience at Google.
I'm going to be applying there soon, 4 years into my career. It'll involve a loong move and big changes: what advice can you give someone who wants to spend a couple years (or more?) with the big G? Also, any chance of submitting a referral? :)
Author writes article ranting about decision-making by groups of people who know nothing about them.
Commenter asks for referral from author who knows nothing about them.
Re: Why I Quit Google to Work for Myself
#7 Because you made enough money that it was an affordable risk?
Yes, perf is garbage and management is chaos, but let's be honest with ourselves. Four years' worth of GSUs oughta be enough for anybody.
"Devoted employee" followed by "expert at gaming the perf system" followed by "project cancelled and adrift" is, sadly, the normal progression for a Googler, from what I've seen.
Re: Why I Quit Google to Work for Myself
#8This covers a lot of the same ground as Brendan Reid's "Stealing the Corner Office"[1], which gives a playbook for helping stuff like this work in your favour, rather than against you. You fit the profile of what Reid calls the "Smart but Stationary Manager" - a guy who is a lot smarter than a lot of the people who do get promoted, but who doesn't optimize for the right factors. Reid's point is that a lot of these gu…
I guess my question is: Can you get job satisfaction from promotion-focused work? I'm proud of what I've done. When I make someone else's life easier, that makes me feel good/satisfied with my work. I can't fathom satisfaction from impressing a promotion committee and tacking on a bigger title.
Re: Why I Quit Google to Work for Myself
#9Because you made enough money that it was an affordable risk? Yes, perf is garbage and management is chaos, but let's be honest with ourselves. Four years' worth of GSUs oughta be enough for anybody. "Devoted employee" followed by "expert at gaming the perf system" followed by "project cancelled and adrift" is, sadly, the normal progression for a Googler, from what I've seen.
What is a "GSU"?
Re: Why I Quit Google to Work for Myself
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm going to be applying there soon, 4 years into my career. It'll involve a loong move and big changes: what advice can you give someone who wants to spend a couple years (or more?) with the big G? Also, any chance of submitting a referral? :)
Author writes article ranting about decision-making by groups of people who know nothing about them. Commenter asks for referral from author who knows nothing about them.
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