31–40 of 51 posts
Why do we need senior people at all? The short answer is time. Hiring someone who has already done what you are trying to do can radically speed up time to success. But won’t they just ruin the culture? This question must be taken seriously. However, bringing in the right kind of experience at the right time can mean the difference between bankruptcy and glory. Wow, that's offensive.
Seriously. Even as a young person, that stung.
Jesus Christ, is that top picture of a hellish working environment typical? I have a panic attack just looking at it. Does anyone happen to know what company that is so I know to avoid them like the plague? EDIT: OK, figured it out, it is Pivotal[0]. I have absolutely no idea what they actually _do_ based on their website, exactly as I would expect for the kind of company that would have that sort of office. [0]: htt…
What you are looking at is the pair programming setup. Two monitors, two keyboards, one computer. It is a bit weird at first, but once you get used to it, you really start to see the advantages of it. Sure, it isn't perfect, but their model is proven and works well.
Pivotal is also one of the few places I've worked where there was very few jerks and a majority of very smart people. Pair programming really weeds out weak links pretty quickly as nobody will want to pair with you if you're a jerk.
I made some good friends and I loved my time there. I was a contractor just doing a ~6 month stint to learn about pair programming and help capitalize my startup. =)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
it looks familiar to me- I think it's Pivotal. edit: you edited while I was writing my reply. :) edit 2: if you didn't see this, is related- http://www.wired.com/2013/11/pivotal-one/
Thanks for the link. Yup, that is anathema to me, you couldn't pay me enough to ever consider working there. >As each pair works, neither engineer is permitted to send email or text chat — much less surf the web >The engineers don’t go onto their laptops unless it’s absolutely necessary. They don’t use their phone unless it’s absolutely necessary.” Anyway I will try to avoid buying whatever their product is, I don't…
Jesus Christ, is that top picture of a hellish working environment typical? I have a panic attack just looking at it. Does anyone happen to know what company that is so I know to avoid them like the plague? EDIT: OK, figured it out, it is Pivotal[0]. I have absolutely no idea what they actually _do_ based on their website, exactly as I would expect for the kind of company that would have that sort of office. [0]: htt…
It's all about the "culture" man, you need to get with the times.
Holy shit. I would never work with/for this writer. In example one, the writer refuses to take responsibility for the fact that they had unrealistic expectations and encouraged unhealthy behavior. If a guy works for 72 hours straight, you don't reward him for that , you tell him to take 3 days off and get some sleep, because nobody can be productive at a pace like that. At the very least it's incredibly unhealthy for…
The writer is Ben Horowitz:
>Ben Horowitz is cofounder and partner of Andreessen Horowitz.
Therefore there is a good chance that if you work at a successful Valley startup you are indirectly working for this guy and making him even more disgustingly wealthy from your labour.
The first example read like the employee was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, so we fired him . Ouch. Try to be supportive and help at least once. Then reconsider. Else, the jerk is on you.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Hey, if most people were able to study/learn in school like that, why can't they work like that? Just saying. I've pretty much accepted my fate. I will sit on the floor or in circles or in that format, just pay me and pay me well.
Because I demand more respect than that from my employer. It is a layout designed to cram the max number of people into the cheapest space. These people are shoulder to shoulder. You have zero privacy and anything you do on your screen 2 other people are going to inevitably see it. In that way it is also your employer enforcing their will on you- you will feel embarrassed to take a perfectly normal break to look at F…
Does that apply mainly to SV, or have you had/seen similar experiences elsewhere?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
it looks familiar to me- I think it's Pivotal. edit: you edited while I was writing my reply. :) edit 2: if you didn't see this, is related- http://www.wired.com/2013/11/pivotal-one/
Thanks for the link. Yup, that is anathema to me, you couldn't pay me enough to ever consider working there. >As each pair works, neither engineer is permitted to send email or text chat — much less surf the web >The engineers don’t go onto their laptops unless it’s absolutely necessary. They don’t use their phone unless it’s absolutely necessary.” Anyway I will try to avoid buying whatever their product is, I don't…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wow, that one is even worse, pure ageism. He might as well write about "when to hire female people" etc. Somewhat sad that "culture" is mostly a meaningless buzzword these days, used mainly to exclude people you don't like.
And yet people will listen to this guy because he is a VC and will create cargo cult leadership to hang off his every word.
If you read the book, there were only a few fairly badly communicated or stupid parts, and they made a lot more sense in context (it is partially biographical, so he includes mistakes and why they were mistakes).
The "old people" is one of those which made more sense in context. It was a bad idea to let it be pulled out like this, imo.