I posted this a long time ago on another site while I was head of a development group. I had an experience today (that I won't get into) that made me think of this and post it again.
Enjoy
An Unprofessional Rant
Now this isn't going to seem very
professional on my part so please forgive my rant, but I have a theory
on company success, and this one isn't tied to revenue or profitability.
Coffee Pots! That's right, I said it. Forget everything you've learned in business school, Coffee Pots are the answer. I'm at a company with a very low stock price (read: my options are so far underwater it's going to take a navy expedition to raise them) and the Coffee is always empty. This isn't because we don't have a cupboard full of Jo, but because the 37 second task (I measured it 3 times and took an average) of making the stuff must be so difficult and complicated I'm going to need to hire a consultant. (or Terry Tate)
So this morning as I was making coffee, once again, (after dumping the 1/4 inch of jo left in the bottom by some hurried employee) I started to ponder the reasons why and had to look back at my career for some insight.
My current organization: Empty Pot, stock price is crap, revenue is crap, people in general not that talented. How do you spell coffee again?
My last company: Pot always full, VC funded with talented people, doubled revenues every year, Sold for over $160M. 37 second task not that difficult I guess.
The company before: Pot Full, high stock price, talented people.
And the one before: Empty Pot, Failed venture, VC pulled out, people left. Probably couldn't find the coffee...drink it, no problem...fill it, problem.
So take a look around your office. If the pot is empty, RUN, nothing good can come of it. Lazy people dominate your world.
If the pot is full, stick around, from my experience it will be a good run as the people you're working with don't have a problem with the details.
I may not win the Nobel prize for economics with this theory, but I may be on to something....or just suffering from caffeine withdrawal.
Coffee Pots! That's right, I said it. Forget everything you've learned in business school, Coffee Pots are the answer. I'm at a company with a very low stock price (read: my options are so far underwater it's going to take a navy expedition to raise them) and the Coffee is always empty. This isn't because we don't have a cupboard full of Jo, but because the 37 second task (I measured it 3 times and took an average) of making the stuff must be so difficult and complicated I'm going to need to hire a consultant. (or Terry Tate)
So this morning as I was making coffee, once again, (after dumping the 1/4 inch of jo left in the bottom by some hurried employee) I started to ponder the reasons why and had to look back at my career for some insight.
My current organization: Empty Pot, stock price is crap, revenue is crap, people in general not that talented. How do you spell coffee again?
My last company: Pot always full, VC funded with talented people, doubled revenues every year, Sold for over $160M. 37 second task not that difficult I guess.
The company before: Pot Full, high stock price, talented people.
And the one before: Empty Pot, Failed venture, VC pulled out, people left. Probably couldn't find the coffee...drink it, no problem...fill it, problem.
So take a look around your office. If the pot is empty, RUN, nothing good can come of it. Lazy people dominate your world.
If the pot is full, stick around, from my experience it will be a good run as the people you're working with don't have a problem with the details.
I may not win the Nobel prize for economics with this theory, but I may be on to something....or just suffering from caffeine withdrawal.
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