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If I work somewhere, I am the tool that the founder uses to have wrought forth their vision. I accept that and do what must be done. Therefore, at the same tim

If I work somewhere, I am the tool that the founder uses to have wrought forth their vision. I accept that and do what must be done. Therefore, at the same time, if I create a company, it is mine to do with as I please, to command forth to fulfill my vision. I don't really understand the purpose of bringing "the whole person" if it doesn't matter to the work being done. It can not only be useless but actively harmful, as people get into tribalistic bouts without doing work.

helmholtz 5y ago
"Do as you please" isn't really true. You'll have local zoning laws to follow, taxes to pay, minimum wages to respect, health codes, fire safety codes and on and on. So already you're at the behest of regulations. Then, you're not employing tools or widgets. Tools are inanimate objects created by humans. Humans are thinking beings that have emotions. It's a fantasy to think you can abstract it away just because you pay them in some cotten/linen paper.
- pdimitar 5y ago
  But it is fairly realistic to expect them to do their work without making political statements or refusing to work with others due to their political beliefs.
wpietri 5y ago
This emperor-or-minion dichotomy is exactly what I'm objecting to. It's both morally repugnant and entirely false. Having started a few companies, I can promise you that it is not yours "to do with as I please, to command forth to fulfill my vision". What you'll actually be doing is desperately seeking to satisfy customers and pacify investors while working hard to keep good staff. Once you get a good business going, you'll have more of a margin to indulge any tastes you have for being a tinpot dictator. But that's always a personal indulgence that in the long term detracts from building the business. Look at WeWork as an example: that guy was absolutely in the "do with as I please, to command forth to fulfill my vision" mold. And how many billions has he lost?

helmholtz 5y ago

"Do as you please" isn't really true. You'll have local zoning laws to follow, taxes to pay, minimum wages to respect, health codes, fire safety codes and on and on. So already you're at the behest of regulations. Then, you're not employing tools or widgets. Tools are inanimate objects created by humans. Humans are thinking beings that have emotions. It's a fantasy to think you can abstract it away just because you pay them in some cotten/linen paper.

pdimitar 5y ago
But it is fairly realistic to expect them to do their work without making political statements or refusing to work with others due to their political beliefs.

wpietri 5y ago

This emperor-or-minion dichotomy is exactly what I'm objecting to. It's both morally repugnant and entirely false. Having started a few companies, I can promise you that it is not yours "to do with as I please, to command forth to fulfill my vision". What you'll actually be doing is desperately seeking to satisfy customers and pacify investors while working hard to keep good staff. Once you get a good business going, you'll have more of a margin to indulge any tastes you have for being a tinpot dictator. But that's always a personal indulgence that in the long term detracts from building the business. Look at WeWork as an example: that guy was absolutely in the "do with as I please, to command forth to fulfill my vision" mold. And how many billions has he lost?