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If you want to get rich, stop being a fucking joker

sebastianmarshall.com

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Re: If you want to get rich, stop being a fucking joker

#231

Post by tezmc »

vacri wrote: post #96
dschobel wrote: post #84

Good for him for getting shit done and empowering his troops but unless their financial incentives are as strong as his, he's just another psychopathic manager for asking them to sacrifice for him ("skip your classes", etc).

That's the point where I was irrevocably lost. Skip my classes for a possible trip in asia if we happen to do really, really well? Made me think of the 'Screw you, pay me' guy.

That's not really a good analogy. The 'F you, pay me' guy was talking about being assertive and sticking up for yourself in the face of clients who are trying to get you to do work for free/not pay their bills etc. (that's if we're talking about the same person)

A better analogy would be that the OP is more like the client of the 'f you, pay me' guy.

Re: If you want to get rich, stop being a fucking joker

#232

Post by DanBC »

kahawe wrote: post #189

Could someone enlighten me what this is about and what is the context because while I can understand the point he seems to be trying to make (just make it happen) I have no idea who he is and what that was written for... Oh and: he equals being "only" middle class with being a "joker" who hasn't risen to their potential but the wealthy people are the not-jokers and the ones to admire? Seriously?? > 99% of people you…

> what is the context

The context is someone with a severe mental illness (bipolar disorder) going through a phase of mania.

Here are some links to information:

(http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/bipolar...)

> When I'm in a manic phase, I feel as though I am capable of anything and everything. This can be an amazing feeling, but I sometimes get frustrated and angry with people. Ideas flow constantly and quickly, as if my brain is on fast-forward. Everything happening in the world has significance in my life.

(http://mentalhealth.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder...)

(http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/bipolardi...)

Re: If you want to get rich, stop being a fucking joker

#233

Post by jodrellblank »

megablast wrote: post #111
MichaelApproved wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're missing the point of the email. He's asking his team to stop sweating the small stuff and just get it done. He's pointing out that others are busting their ass (the designer) while the team is trying to figure out something basic like email providers. Just pick something and go with it.

But it is a stupid statement. There are good reasons why things can't get done sometimes, and no amount of shouting or motivational posters is going to change that. Eventually when you are running towards a goal and not planning, you realize you can't just continue, you have made a mistake and are heading in the wrong direction. This get it done attitude ignores this face.

This get it done attitude ignores this face.

Except it doesn't. The post clearly and repeatedly says "if you can get a goal done, do so. If you can get a good enough substitute, you don't need to ask me, I trust your judgment. If you could do it but you need money, here are my card details, I trust you to spend money carefully. And if you are doing the above and get stuck tell me and we'll fix it together.

Re: If you want to get rich, stop being a fucking joker

#234

Post by 16s »

The advice he gives about keeping your word is good advice. I try to keep my word, and I enjoy working with others who do. However, committing to do unreasonable things in an unreasonable time and then not being able to finish them is not so much about "keeping your word" as it is about being realistic. No matter how great you and your team are, you have to set realistic goals and doing that is not being "normal" or "average" it's being reasonable and having a work/life balance.

Re: If you want to get rich, stop being a fucking joker

#235

Post by Angostura »

lionhearted wrote: post #159
bermanoid wrote: post #125

"Dear Sebastian, we quit, piss off. Best, Sam, Lee, and Jon." Seriously, this is just ridiculous. Is there anyone here that would actually put up with this ridiculous public shaming at all, let alone from a CEO that's off in Asia staying up "20 hours" to print flyers for one of his other companies, while he bitches that you're not reneging on your teaching commitments (which I would presume he knew about when he took…

A couple points - They're partners, not employees. Yes, I'll suffer at the printshop when I promised it. My colleague offered to do it, but he just had a baby and it would be ridiculous to keep him all night. No one else was available on Sunday night. > they tend to be neither very good businessmen nor good employers. My staff like me, I pay top of market (sometimes 10x market pay, if the person is worth it but short…

I'm sure you will be big enough to publish their candid responses on the blog.

Re: If you want to get rich, stop being a fucking joker

#237

Post by llambda »

I don't "fucking" understand where Sebastian gets off: "I had all the time I’d need for this project if we met our original timetables. Now, I don’t have it any more because I’m working 12 to 17 hours per day on something else."

In a nutshell, the CEO is saying, "Hey guys, listen, I'm really this one kind of person who gets shit done, except for right now I can't be because I have to take care of some other self-interests (no this isn't the same as being a joker), so I need you to meet my crazy standards."

So he's unable to actually live up to the work ethic he espouses and purports to be a paragon of and as a result wants his staff to fill in the blanks while he works on "something else"; to just "get it fucking done" and not be "jokers". This is contrived and manipulative. If I were working for this guy that would be the last professional exchange we ever had. Horrible leadership.

Re: If you want to get rich, stop being a fucking joker

#238

Post by brerrabbit »

laurent-LB wrote: post #60

If this guy was my friend I would look for a therapist for him. This is the second time I come across this blog and the tone sounds more and more delusional and manic.

He seems like he is in the middle of a meltdown. Read the next consecutive post. It's shocking.

http://www.sebastianmarshall.com/an-open-letter-to-simon-and...

Re: If you want to get rich, stop being a fucking joker

#239

Post by jodrellblank »

Tichy wrote: post #184
malloreon wrote: post #69

The insightful part is this: "What’s a joker? A joker is someone who says they’re going to do something, and then doesn’t. A joker always has excuses. “Oh well, I tried…” -> No, I don’t give a fuck that you tried. Did you do it or not? DID YOU DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU’D DO OR NOT? If not, you’re a fucking joker and we’ve got problems." To summarize: don't talk about it, be about it.

A problem might be that "it" in the mind of the manager is a clear cut, black and white thing, whereas in reality it might turn out to have more facettes and nuances. With a bulldozer manager (get it done or get out) it might be difficult to adapt to reality. I also dislike that kind of speeches because it sets up a power hierarchy from the start. Not a good basis for cooperation.

He doesn't say "get it done or get out", he says "get it done or tell me".

As distinct from "think about it, then ask me, then try it, then ask me, then get stuck"

Re: If you want to get rich, stop being a fucking joker

#240

Post by tomelders »

From the comments.

“A joker is someone who says they’re going to do something, and then doesn’t. A joker always has excuses.”

-------------------

Hannibal you’re back! Did you conquer Rome?

Erm no. Had no siege weapons and my men would… Oh well, I tried…

No, I don’t give a fuck that you tried. Did you do it or not?

Could have.

DID YOU DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU’D DO OR NOT?

Erm no.

Hannibal you’re a fucking joker and we’ve got problems.

-------------------

priceless.

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