21–30 of 31 posts
You alluded to one danger of ignoring culture: that your company will develop a culture that you don't like. However, there's a bigger concern when you ignore culture - the possibility that your corporation develops multiple cultures, which conflict with one another. You're already starting to define responsibilities and divide the work accordingly. That's good. However, you need to make sure that there's still a lot…
i found tony hsieh's Delivering Happiness to be a very good read with respect to developing a culture you're proud of.. it's a nice look at what i like to call "tribal ethics." any other recommendations?
This is going to sound ridiculous, but I would read "accidental billionaires" (the book that "the social network" is based on). I think it shows how another type of culture can develop on it's own.
8:30 AM - 9 PM ? Jesus.
I wonder how much of these 12 hour days are truly productive.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's easier to maintain those hours if you have a significant equity stake. The equation doesn't add up when your primary compensation is salary (later hires).
it's easy to maintain these hours when you love your job and you believe in your company (and have great teammates). you can't let equity and/or salary be your sole motivation; you have to actually enjoy what you do.
8:30 AM - 9 PM ? Jesus.
Fair enough, but just to be clear, these were the first five employees (including my cofounder and me). Now, some of us still work those hours, and some don't. We don't "monitor" hours or tell people they can't take time off or leave early - and a lot of people take full liberty to do so (and they should). Some of our employees have kids and leave earlier, put the kids to bed, and hop on IRC to help out if/when they…
You alluded to one danger of ignoring culture: that your company will develop a culture that you don't like. However, there's a bigger concern when you ignore culture - the possibility that your corporation develops multiple cultures, which conflict with one another. You're already starting to define responsibilities and divide the work accordingly. That's good. However, you need to make sure that there's still a lot…
A cultish hive-mind where everyone is a clone of the founder is no good either.
It's not an easy balance to strike.
8:30 AM - 9 PM ? Jesus.
Fair enough, but just to be clear, these were the first five employees (including my cofounder and me). Now, some of us still work those hours, and some don't. We don't "monitor" hours or tell people they can't take time off or leave early - and a lot of people take full liberty to do so (and they should). Some of our employees have kids and leave earlier, put the kids to bed, and hop on IRC to help out if/when they…
"separated work from personal life."
Sorry, but this whole defense is just making me angry. The issue for me is less that the long hours are worked (everyone there is there voluntarily, etc), the issue is that posts defending it in such a way that glorifies it. When you are throwing out statements that imply if you love what you do you will work 12 hours and if you work 8 hours you are watch the clock.. That indicates you a building a company culture of heroics that looks down on lesser people who choose to work with a reasonable life/work balance.
You have to understand that people would not be so critical about this point if they didn't feel an emotional stake in it. Since they are (presumably) not employed and directly affected, my belief is this: the mentality is dangerous and it spreads. Your employees will one day spread out and take that culture with them.
I escaped from the digital games industry for this very reason. What might have started as a cultural thing for a few early core companies is now an INDUSTRY WIDE practice of overwork, mismanagement, and exploitation. The culture continues to be persisted through hero stories. I have many friends still in the industry who seem bipolar in their stance towards it: One day they are complaining how on the nicest weekend of the summer they were working towards TRC requirements due to an overly ambitious schedule, the next they are bragging about working that weekend as proof of how hardcore they are and how much they love their job.
It's psychotic.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
it's easy to maintain these hours when you love your job and you believe in your company (and have great teammates). you can't let equity and/or salary be your sole motivation; you have to actually enjoy what you do.
Sorry, but I don't regard anyone who puts in these kinds of hours for a salary and chance at a token bonus (say 40% of yearly base) as rational. You've only got so many productive hours in your life. If you love working so much then take a second job you love and work both at reasonable hours. If you ever wake up and realize life isn't all about making other people rich, at least you'll have a lot more to show for yo…