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You're not the CEO - You're the Fucking Janitor

zachbruhnke.com

81–90 of 146 posts

Re: You're not the CEO - You're the Fucking Janitor

#81
post #57
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's called the Dunbar number, and it varies: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbars_number

Thank you. That is why I said things like typical human brain and about 150. As I understand it, Napoleon inspired such loyalty in spite of how he treated his people because he could greet everyone by name and ask how their wife Elaine was doing, etc. It made everyone feel he caredabout them personally. I had similar talents when I was younger but never really knew what to do with it as I was a homemaker, but I am fa…

It's why cities are stressful for the brain, I think. 99% of people we interact with are strangers, and we put up our social guard everywhere we go. Giving us a feeling of alienation, and increasing our fight/flight response.

Re: You're not the CEO - You're the Fucking Janitor

#82
post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you. That is why I said things like typical human brain and about 150. As I understand it, Napoleon inspired such loyalty in spite of how he treated his people because he could greet everyone by name and ask how their wife Elaine was doing, etc. It made everyone feel he caredabout them personally. I had similar talents when I was younger but never really knew what to do with it as I was a homemaker, but I am fa…

It's why cities are stressful for the brain, I think. 99% of people we interact with are strangers, and we put up our social guard everywhere we go. Giving us a feeling of alienation, and increasing our fight/flight response.

I generally agree with you, and did upvote you, but I am currently in the largest city I have ever lived in and not really experiencing it that way. I suppose I need to think more about why that is, but I think part of it is that the gaslamp district was designed on a walkable human scale before the auto era. I am not a fan of cars and I find the modern American auto-centric lifestyle and urban design really stressful. Plus, I run into lots of people I know daily, in part because I walk everywhere. I actually feel less isolated here than in the last place I lived, though I had relatives nearby, grew up there, it is a smaller city, etc.

Re: You're not the CEO - You're the Fucking Janitor

#83
post #26

Seriously, does anyone take anyone seriously who calls themselves CEO, CTO or CFO of a 5 man company? How about owner or founder. Maybe it's a cultural thing but here in the UK we'd definitely laugh at someone calling themselves that unless it was a company of a considerable size.

I was thinking of having business cards printed up that said "CEO/CTO/CJO". When anyone asked me what the "J" stood for, I would of course answer "Janitorial".

Re: You're not the CEO - You're the Fucking Janitor

#84
post #26

Seriously, does anyone take anyone seriously who calls themselves CEO, CTO or CFO of a 5 man company? How about owner or founder. Maybe it's a cultural thing but here in the UK we'd definitely laugh at someone calling themselves that unless it was a company of a considerable size.

My boss (at a 3 person company) calls himself the president. I laugh at him for it, but ultimately I can't really criticize. Solo founder is a hard job, and if you're doing it why shouldnt you be able to call yourself whatever the hell you want? It's not like there are a whole lot of other perks, and what's the harm?

[deleted]

Re: You're not the CEO - You're the Fucking Janitor

#85
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nothing at all. That's something I think I did not portray clearly enough in this post. There is nothing wrong with being a janitor. Someone has to do it, the point was really to display that you have to do anything and everything necessary to make your company successful. Titles are bullshit and egos should be checked at the door.

In that case it would be nice if people would stop bashing janitors.

Who is bashing janitors?

Re: You're not the CEO - You're the Fucking Janitor

#86
I'll be impressed when the partner of a VC firm is caught sweeping the floors at a portfolio company :)

I also believe that while humility is a great barometer for, "good guys," undervaluing your time as CEO and sweeping the floors is probably not the most productive or responsible thing to do as someone with fiduciary responsibilities to your investors, yourself, your employees and the overall success of the company.

Re: You're not the CEO - You're the Fucking Janitor

#87
post #26

Seriously, does anyone take anyone seriously who calls themselves CEO, CTO or CFO of a 5 man company? How about owner or founder. Maybe it's a cultural thing but here in the UK we'd definitely laugh at someone calling themselves that unless it was a company of a considerable size.

I was thinking of having business cards printed up that said "CEO/CTO/CJO". When anyone asked me what the "J" stood for, I would of course answer "Janitorial".

Or how about just CE... Chief Employee.

Re: You're not the CEO - You're the Fucking Janitor

#89
post #73

Enough with the articles with curse words in the title. Grow up, little boys.

I find it ironic that you have a problem with curse words as they represent immaturity, but you're fine with throwing demeaning insults at people.

No irony in called a spade a spade. In my opinion, it the sign of a weak mind to need to use profanity to express strong emotion, of trying to 'write with fire' but failing utterly. A great writer never will need to resort to that so frequently, and then, when used super rarely, it is powerful. Used a lot, just meh -- and weak. Like an unrefined learner, a boy.

Re: You're not the CEO - You're the Fucking Janitor

#90

"In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility. " Benjam…

Humility isn't thinking poorly of yourself, humility is not thinking of yourself at all.
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