This happened to me. What I would recommend anybody in a similar situation is to read Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince. The book is advice to Princes of small states in Italy in how they should keep control of their states. It was written 500 years ago - but equally applies to Software Start-ups. It is most famous for the quote the "The end justifies the means".
Any venture capital company should read the chapter "On Troops and Mercenaries" - substitute - Mercenary for Hired Gun Management. Machiavelli say's "Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous" - further on he says "they [Mercenaries] are brave among friends [read the board and head-hunters]; among enemies they are cowards......... they keep no faith with men; and your downfall is deferred only so long as the attack is deferred; and in peace you are plundered by them, in war by your enemies."
Basically what Machiavelli goes on to say is that troops don't really fight for money, but for vision and belief in the Prince. If an employee does not believe that the CEO is in for the long haul why should he be?
I did OK money wise, but this did not stop me going into massive depression for about a year after I was replaced. It feels like somebody messing up your toys....
Basically what Machiavelli goes on to say is that troops don't really fight for money, but for vision and belief in the Prince.
I'm not fighting for anybody. I'm working to produce profit for your company. If I do so, I expect to be well paid for my services. If I don't, then why are you employing me? Time to part company.
In short, I am explicitly mercenery about how I work. I have no 'vision and belief in the Prince', I have vision in belief in my family. The better I do at work, the more they benefit. And better is measured purely in terms of how much money I can bring back home and how much time I can spend with them.
Vision and belief in the Prince. Pah. Who do you think the Prince has vision in, hmm? Himself. His successes accrue entirely to himself.
That point is that you work/fight for something you believe in. I don't know anyone who accomplished anything who simply wanted to have things . Even the most materialistic people I know feel some deeper meaning in their activity; they don't do it for its own sake.
Machiavelli wrote The Prince as a tongue in cheek satire about the ruling class itself. However, despite his intentions, the ruling class completely missed the point and saw the book as a "guide." Today it's still good reading as both a Satire and guide at the same time.
Promptness is its own reward, if one lives by the clock instead of the sword.
Machiavelli - On Troops and Mercenaries (Score:5, Insightful)
Any venture capital company should read the chapter "On Troops and Mercenaries" - substitute - Mercenary for Hired Gun Management. Machiavelli say's "Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous" - further on he says "they [Mercenaries] are brave among friends [read the board and head-hunters]; among enemies they are cowards
Basically what Machiavelli goes on to say is that troops don't really fight for money, but for vision and belief in the Prince. If an employee does not believe that the CEO is in for the long haul why should he be?
I did OK money wise, but this did not stop me going into massive depression for about a year after I was replaced. It feels like somebody messing up your toys....
A jolt from reality... (Score:2)
I'm not fighting for anybody. I'm working to produce profit for your company. If I do so, I expect to be well paid for my services. If I don't, then why are you employing me? Time to part company.
In short, I am explicitly mercenery about how I work. I have no 'vision and belief in the Prince', I have vision in belief in my family. The better I do at work, the more they benefit. And better is measured purely in terms of how much money I can bring back home and how much time I can spend with them.
Vision and belief in the Prince. Pah. Who do you think the Prince has vision in, hmm? Himself. His successes accrue entirely to himself.
Cheers,
Ian
Re:A jolt from reality... (Score:2)
That point is that you work/fight for something you believe in. I don't know anyone who accomplished anything who simply wanted to have things . Even the most materialistic people I know feel some deeper meaning in their activity; they don't do it for its own sake.
Actually, the Prince is Satire (Score:1)