I would never work for Jason Calacanis - There, I said it • Hacker News Board

Re: I would never work for Jason Calacanis - There, I said it

#111

Post by surfrat » Tue, Dec 07, 2010, 7:52 PM UTC

marcamillion wrote: post #90

alexlmiller wrote: post #71

Chiming in one more voice from someone who has worked for Jason: Yes, it's a grind, but he is completely up front about what you're getting yourself into (and if its not something you're interested in, I'd suggest avoiding it). However, if it is something you vibe on, it's overall an amazing experience that gives you many X the experience as you would in most other jobs. There was some hard stuff to deal with, but do…

Alex...the problem I have with his shtick, is not that he gives you upfront what you will get. Or that he is abrasive. It is this notion that, if you like the way he leads, then you are the best. If you don't, then you are 'normal'. i.e. bad, and you don't what to succeed. That's a false dichotomy and it's highly annoying to hear him re-iterate many, many times. If he just said, working for me is hell. But, you will…

Wow Marc, now I see why you are so upset about Jason. As I mentioned before I do not agree with his tyrannical leadership methodology, but it seems to have worked for him in the past and others have testified to its effectiveness(sometime).

But truth be told we are all adults here and have the choice to work with or without Mr. Calacanis. That said, your whole point boils down to "he shouldn't say he, or his way, is the best cause it is making me sick to hear it over and over again". That, my friend is just juvenile. How old are you again?

Again, if you don't like to hear Jason spout then stop watching his network or his shows, simple as that. This kind of Jayting is just juvenile and unproductive. Why does he need to be compared to Bezos et al....what have you done? The best revenge against people like Jason is to do what you do and crush it your way. If you are not doing that then find another place to displace your jealous rage.

All the best.

Re: I would never work for Jason Calacanis - There, I said it

#112

Post by iphoneedbot » Fri, Dec 10, 2010, 9:25 AM UTC

marcamillion wrote: post #102

phlux wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Based on the system that we live in, everybody tends to benefit, when (in aggregate) everybody looks out for their self-interest. Isn't that the basic premise of Game Theory? and more specifically the Nash Equilibrium? ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nash_equilibrium )

Thanks for this....it's not quite the same thing though. For instance, based on that Wikipedia article: >Stated simply, Amy and Bill are in Nash equilibrium if Amy is making the best decision she can, taking into account Bill's decision, and Bill is making the best decision he can, taking into account Amy's decision. Likewise, a group of players is in Nash equilibrium if each one is making the best decision that he o…

good theory. but, it just almost never happens, and when it does- it happens temporarily in a very short amount of time:

"players actually improve their payoffs if they make the best decisions (for themselves) that he or she can "

-- the problem is that statistically, folks make bad decisions/ - often because, the motivation for that decision isnt clear.

motivations play a key role as well as the individuals understanding of fairness.

Re: I would never work for Jason Calacanis - There, I said it

#113

Post by iphoneedbot » Fri, Dec 10, 2010, 9:30 AM UTC

hugh3 wrote: post #36

roschdal wrote: post #27

Q: "How would you describe your management style, because you have a pretty unique management style?" Jason Calacanis: "Yeah, I would say I like people to be able to keep up with me. Uuuhm. And I don't get tired - I have only experienced being tired a couple of times in my life, it's typically from running the marathon and so I need people who are indefatigable, people who have pretty high stamina. I need people who…

Wow. Okay. I've read people complaining about this Calcanis guy a whole lot and never understood why. To me it was just a name, I never really knew precisely what he had done or what he was doing now, and I'm still not sure what this Mahalo thing does if it's not a shoe company. Anyway, now I understand. He's a jerk. Not some kind of unique and interesting jerk, fascinating in his jerkiness, but just a regular garden…

Well to be fair, it is his company. jerk or not; you cant hate on the guy for running his business the way he wants to.

btw,

"Not some kind of unique and interesting jerk, fascinating in his jerkiness, but just a regular garden-variety jerk. I know those guys. "

I think that deserves to be on a tshirt or something

Re: I would never work for Jason Calacanis - There, I said it

#114

Post by iphoneedbot » Fri, Dec 10, 2010, 9:46 AM UTC

jasonmcalacanis wrote: post #59

maxklein wrote: post #2

But he's very successful. Who's viewpoint are we supposed to champion here - the employee or the employer? Should we not be happy when an employer is successful and can get a lot from his employees with minimal expense? Does the process of building a startup not put us squarely in the side of the employer?

Actually, in startups everyone is aligned in their interest due to stock options. Anyone who looks at it as employer/employee just doesn't get the startup dynamic. As an investor in 20 startups I'm constantly pushing to give more stock options to employees, and as the founder of three companies with over 100 f/t employees and 250 part-time folks, I'm constantly pushing to increase stock compensation over cash comp. W…

its not necessarily true that increasing stock-options to employees align their collective interest. for a startup; it only really works if everyone has close to equal shares

Its sorta like paying disney employees with disney-bux for their bonuses.

Re: I would never work for Jason Calacanis - There, I said it

#115

Post by marcamillion » Sun, Dec 12, 2010, 5:34 PM UTC

jasonmcalacanis wrote: post #104

marcamillion wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Jason, you are right. The title, and perhaps the content is classic Calacanis-HN link-baiting. But, quite frankly, you make it too easy. Naturally, I am not surprised that you think that someone that disagrees with you (and actually voices an opinion), is a 'whinny, entitled kid'. Further descending into personal attacks about the likelihood of whether or not I complain about a bunch of tiny things, is also not surpr…

It's fairly clear you're a hater. That's OK, there is a lot to hate. :-)

Just for the record, I am not the one that voted you down for this comment.