I enjoyed some aspects of this, but I disagree with a lot of it.
I don’t think that “Good business is boring.” It’s only boring if it’s not actually really doing good. Volunteering at a soup kitchen, going to church, spending quality time with your family - these kind of things NEVER get boring, even if certain tasks and routines become repetitive.
It’s true that “the real value is not in the novelty.” And it’s also true that early stage startups have some super-special magical energy about them. But there is a way to build an organization in which the magic doesn’t disappear, just as there is a way to have an “old girlfriend” (a long relationship) where the connection and commitment get deeper, stronger, and better with time.
Reading some parts of this, I felt like I could hear the sound of a manager covertly, and maybe even unintentionally, working to dehumanize his/her workforce. I can so imagine someone sending this piece to a crestfallen subordinate and that legit depresses me.
Knowing that, over time, the new girlfriend will be a not-so-new-but-a-lot-more-wonderful girlfriend (if you are willing to work towards it), can help combine huge value creation with great satisfaction.
I enjoyed some aspects of this, but I disagree with a lot of it.
I don’t think that “Good business is boring.” It’s only boring if it’s not actually really doing good. Volunteering at a soup kitchen, going to church, spending quality time with your family - these kind of things NEVER get boring, even if certain tasks and routines become repetitive.
It’s true that “the real value is not in the novelty.” And it’s also true that early stage startups have some super-special magical energy about them. But there is a way to build an organization in which the magic doesn’t disappear, just as there is a way to have an “old girlfriend” (a long relationship) where the connection and commitment get deeper, stronger, and better with time.
Reading some parts of this, I felt like I could hear the sound of a manager covertly, and maybe even unintentionally, working to dehumanize his/her workforce. I can so imagine someone sending this piece to a crestfallen subordinate and that legit depresses me.
A poignant subject for founders & startup investors