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My guess, which is just a guess, is that the founders got tired of Google Search and advertising and Android and mobile hardware and privacy issues and regulato

by AnonHP 6y ago

My guess, which is just a guess, is that the founders got tired of Google Search and advertising and Android and mobile hardware and privacy issues and regulatory issues so much that the “don’t be evil” motto was glaring at their faces and made them uncomfortable enough to step aside and let others run the show (or run things into the ground). This must have allowed them to enjoy their riches in relative peace. Sometimes the things you create grow way beyond your capacity to handle and become soul crushing endeavors that bear little resemblance to the early years of adventure, fulfillment and satisfaction in serving others, and the wise thing to do would be to step aside and preserve your sanity and peace of mind.

yNeolh 6y ago
Yes, that's was exactly the point made by Notch after the Microsoft acquisition of Minecraft isn't? Only that in a lower (not that low) grade... It has to be soul crushing having almost infinite money and not being able to "fix" your brain or buy time...
chesterbr 6y ago
Last paragraph is the reason why I don't have kids
- cheonic729 6y ago
  exactly.
- stickfigure 6y ago
  I entered into parenthood with similar trepidation, but my fears turned out to be unjustified. It definitely means having different experiences, but it's waaaay more fun than I thought it would be.
  - chesterbr 6y ago
    Glad to hear. That comment was in jest, of course!
  - BrandoElFollito 6y ago
    Same for me. I was telling my wife that we have freedom, money and time. No need to plan anything. We have two kids and I do not regret one second what we have today, and one second what we used to have. Equally superbe times in our lives, I wild not go back, and I wild not change what we did.
  - lukaa 6y ago
    There is nothing from evolutionary point of view more important than having children. It would be highly unusual if nature didn't make that experience overall speaking as one of best things in life.
    - esperent 6y ago
      And yet, all the studies of people with children show that they make you less happy, while they are around, although more happy later in later, presumably once they have moved out. Years of relief built up I guess (just kidding, more likely the benefits of having an extended close family when you are older). Speaking for myself, I know that I would hate to have my freedom taken away by having children. I also know that my sister, who has a four year old and a one year old, has been miserable and exhausted for much of the last four years.
      - davidhegarty 6y ago
        I think there's a difference between happiness and fulfillment. Parenthood unlocks a new level of feelings I never experienced before. I cannot accurately describe the joy that fatherhood brings me.... despite the reduced sleep and increased stress. By a magnitude of 10x, Fatherhood has surpassed anything i have experienced prior.
      - ALittleLight 6y ago
        Happiness is overrated. Like picking a food to eat because it's sweeter. If you could choose between a future where your happiness doubled but one of your loved ones died, or the unadjusted future, which would you prefer?
        krapp 6y ago
        >If you could choose between a future where your happiness doubled but one of your loved ones died, or the unadjusted future, which would you prefer? You'd really have to hate your loved ones for that first option to be viable.
        esperent 6y ago
- encoderer 6y ago
  With kids, the soul crushing happens up front, and then it gets more rewarding. Sort of the opposite story.
tehjoker 6y ago
This sounds like a just-so story. Just as likely they are running sensitive projects inside of Google that interface with the government. I am far more likely to believe that than a billionaire simply enjoying their money for its epicurean aspects. Attaining a billion dollars requires the will-to-power. That's not something that goes away.
- PaulDavisThe1st 6y ago
  I know quite a few billionaires from the Amazon "process" that definitely did not have "the will-to-power". They just got lucky. How that relates to Page (& Brin) ... I don't know.
ci5er 6y ago
Yup. It is soul-crushing. My company failed in the back-wash of the "dot-bomb" (we were not strictly a dot-com play - but close enough that we got caught in the back-wash), and while I would have preferred IPOing (not really possible in early 2000) or M&A (actually, similar reasons), I got really DEPRESSED!. Now, I was just the founder, not the CEO, but the journey from garage to supremacy (if you even make it) is a ride, maaan! I always found the garage loneliness that you find people lamenting on HackerNews to be a lot more bearable than 10 shareholders and 250 employees and (in our case) 20 global enterprise customers. I am certainly not sure that I have it in me to attempt again. Psychologically, I mean.
robofanatic 6y ago
This means that it's tougher to be running such a company at this stage. All initial fairy tale is over. Now every day the company will be scrutinized by someone, be it shareholders, customers or even your own employees. There is now less room for error hence less room to be bold and take chances.

by AnonHP 6y ago

yNeolh 6y ago

Yes, that's was exactly the point made by Notch after the Microsoft acquisition of Minecraft isn't? Only that in a lower (not that low) grade... It has to be soul crushing having almost infinite money and not being able to "fix" your brain or buy time...

chesterbr 6y ago

Last paragraph is the reason why I don't have kids

cheonic729 6y ago
exactly.
stickfigure 6y ago
I entered into parenthood with similar trepidation, but my fears turned out to be unjustified. It definitely means having different experiences, but it's waaaay more fun than I thought it would be.
- chesterbr 6y ago
  Glad to hear. That comment was in jest, of course!
- BrandoElFollito 6y ago
  Same for me. I was telling my wife that we have freedom, money and time. No need to plan anything. We have two kids and I do not regret one second what we have today, and one second what we used to have. Equally superbe times in our lives, I wild not go back, and I wild not change what we did.
- lukaa 6y ago
  There is nothing from evolutionary point of view more important than having children. It would be highly unusual if nature didn't make that experience overall speaking as one of best things in life.
  - esperent 6y ago
    And yet, all the studies of people with children show that they make you less happy, while they are around, although more happy later in later, presumably once they have moved out. Years of relief built up I guess (just kidding, more likely the benefits of having an extended close family when you are older). Speaking for myself, I know that I would hate to have my freedom taken away by having children. I also know that my sister, who has a four year old and a one year old, has been miserable and exhausted for much of the last four years.
    - davidhegarty 6y ago
      I think there's a difference between happiness and fulfillment. Parenthood unlocks a new level of feelings I never experienced before. I cannot accurately describe the joy that fatherhood brings me.... despite the reduced sleep and increased stress. By a magnitude of 10x, Fatherhood has surpassed anything i have experienced prior.
    - ALittleLight 6y ago
      Happiness is overrated. Like picking a food to eat because it's sweeter. If you could choose between a future where your happiness doubled but one of your loved ones died, or the unadjusted future, which would you prefer?
      - krapp 6y ago
        >If you could choose between a future where your happiness doubled but one of your loved ones died, or the unadjusted future, which would you prefer? You'd really have to hate your loved ones for that first option to be viable.
      - esperent 6y ago
encoderer 6y ago
With kids, the soul crushing happens up front, and then it gets more rewarding. Sort of the opposite story.

tehjoker 6y ago

This sounds like a just-so story. Just as likely they are running sensitive projects inside of Google that interface with the government. I am far more likely to believe that than a billionaire simply enjoying their money for its epicurean aspects. Attaining a billion dollars requires the will-to-power. That's not something that goes away.

PaulDavisThe1st 6y ago
I know quite a few billionaires from the Amazon "process" that definitely did not have "the will-to-power". They just got lucky. How that relates to Page (& Brin) ... I don't know.

ci5er 6y ago

Yup. It is soul-crushing. My company failed in the back-wash of the "dot-bomb" (we were not strictly a dot-com play - but close enough that we got caught in the back-wash), and while I would have preferred IPOing (not really possible in early 2000) or M&A (actually, similar reasons), I got really DEPRESSED!. Now, I was just the founder, not the CEO, but the journey from garage to supremacy (if you even make it) is a ride, maaan! I always found the garage loneliness that you find people lamenting on HackerNews to be a lot more bearable than 10 shareholders and 250 employees and (in our case) 20 global enterprise customers. I am certainly not sure that I have it in me to attempt again. Psychologically, I mean.

robofanatic 6y ago

This means that it's tougher to be running such a company at this stage. All initial fairy tale is over. Now every day the company will be scrutinized by someone, be it shareholders, customers or even your own employees. There is now less room for error hence less room to be bold and take chances.