<nettime> Founder Mode

[Geoffrey Goodell via nettime-l <nettime-l@lists.nettime.org>]

This recent article by Paul Graham is interesting:

https://paulgraham.com/foundermode.html

I felt that I was reading the notes from someone who had just seen a
talk by Ayn Rand.

It suggests a special relationship between founders and the companies they
create, which cannot be replicated 'professional managers', who are mere
custodians.

Speaking personally, I strongly reject the implied normative conclusion, which
would seem to be that we should all either 'get our own' or submit to the
leadership of some dictatorial 'alpha' person.  Civilisation is about rising
above this herd instinct.

It reminded me of this extended essay by Venkatesh Rao, wherein he analyses the
popular television show, 'The Office', suggesting that the world can be divided
into sociopaths, losers, and clueless:

https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/10/07/the-gervais-principle-or-the-office-according-to-the-office/

Maybe the model can be useful in characterising how organisations evolve, but
let's remember that it is still a model.  Maybe managers should be more
critical of what their direct reports are telling them, or indeed avoid
becoming too lazy about allowing their operations to drift without purpose.
But to suggest that it is a duty of managers to scour their companies for
'important' people and bring them on a retreat misses a critical point: Those
people, important as they may be, will never be founders themselves.  So, what
is really in it for them?

Best wishes --

Geoff
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