7 ms·

A Walk in the Woods with Mark Zuckerberg

178 points by luigi 15y ago

wccrawford 15y ago
If there's an NDA, how are people talking about it? Seems fishy to me.
- Brewer 15y ago
  They can talk as much as they want, as long as no body names them. You can't sue someone for breaking an NDA if you don't know who it was that broke it :P
- almightygod 15y ago
  facebook is most likely more concerned about the facebook projects/inner workings likely discussed during an interview of this type more so then the fact that an interview took place
pak 15y ago
Kind of a cute idea, although if I'm seeing this trail correctly, you wouldn't be starting at the edge of the Facebook parking lot--you cross a hill, then cut through an elementary school, walk a few blocks to Junipero Serra and start up the trail there. Also, the trail itself is not very wooded--more like grassy. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Facebook+Offices,+South+California+Avenue,+Palo+Alto,+CA&hl=en&ll=37.412215,-122.156639&spn=0.012868,0.023775&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=51.708931,97.382812&t=h&z=16 http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Facebook+Offices,+South+Califo...
- pingswept 15y ago
  I lived in the neighborhood of Facebook's office for a few years. I suspect the "wooded trail" is actually just walking up to the top of the small hill by Peter Coutts Circle. It's actually a pretty nice view for how short a walk it is. If it's not that, it's the trail to the dish, which is not wooded at all. Either way, I don't see how you could possibly see Apple in Cupertino from either place. Take a look at the map, and then look at this random video shot from the dish trail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aar3EH4y1JA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aar3EH4y1JA The camera is pointed in the direction of Cupertino around 1:20 or so. There's no way you can "point out" Apple's campus. You can wave in the right direction, but you can do that from an office too.
  - baguasquirrel 15y ago
    Maybe it has something to do with the reporter being from NYC. [full disclosure: I am from NYC]
  - 21echoes 15y ago
    given the pictures provided-- it's totally the Peter Coutts hill. I wonder if Mark and the interviewees know how many Paly/Gunn high schoolers get drunk and stoned on that hill all the time?
  - thinkcomp 15y ago
    I live there now and the hill is on my running path (as is Facebook HQ, sadly). Apple is many miles south. There's no way you can see it, let alone Google. Next time I talk to Nick Bilton I'm going to give him a hard time over this.
m__ 15y ago
“Then he pointed to Facebook and said that it would eventually be bigger than all of the companies he had just mentioned, and that if I joined the company, I could be a part of it all.” That's how Mufasa pitched Simba.
dpritchett 15y ago
Slick. As an interviewee I do my best to stand up and walk around during an interview; anything to get the brain and charisma going and the jitters forgotten is good for developing a rapport.
hackermom 15y ago
TL;DR: no, he did not kill a pig or a goat this time.
eggbrain 15y ago
"He pointed out Apple’s headquarters, then Hewlett-Packard and a number of other big tech companies, the individual explained. Then he pointed to Facebook and said that it would eventually be bigger than all of the companies he had just mentioned, and that if I joined the company, I could be a part of it all." I know he has to sweet talk employees to join his company, but I can't see this ever happening. Right now Facebook has a valuation of about 80 billion, and a userbase of about 750 million. Assuming he can get the userbase to 1 billion, and assuming he could pass Apple (~200 billion evaluation), that would be $200 per user, when the service is free. I know they get money through advertising and other ways, but that seems kind of high.
- BvS 15y ago
  Revenues and market cap are losly related at best. Eg Apples revenue last year was around 60 billion while their market cap is currently around 330 billion (around 5.5 times). Facebooks revenue last year was around 2 billion so if this ratio stays (it probably won't) they would "only" need to grow to 9 billion in revenues and already be bigger than Apple. Besides I don't think it will be impossible for facebook to increase their revenues to tenth of billions once they provide display adds outside of facebook etc. (doesn't mean that I think it's likely but it's definitely possible once they really start focussing on monetization).
  - eggbrain 15y ago
    The question becomes, once they start focusing on monetization, will people stick around the service for long? I think the Facebook brand has a neutral perception in the community at best, unlike Apple or Google, who have brands that people truly like. Facebook does not get users because they are Facebook (unlike Apple where people would buy whatever Jobs sells), Facebook gets users because it is where everyone else is. If they start to heavily monetize their service, and other services are available (Google Plus, for example), I don't think users are going to stick around solely for the Facebook brand.
    - gojomo 15y ago
ddw 15y ago
Perhaps this was something that was left on the cutting room floor of "The Social Network". Very Hollywood to me.
ForrestN 15y ago
This is so cheesy! I don't know if I could keep a straight face. It's interesting how different the personalities of different companies are, and how deeply those personalities penetrate the way they operate. And, just like human personalities, you just like some companies and you don't like others. I would be completely turned off by the Zuckerberg-worshipping atmosphere being confirmed explicitly by the man himself, but clearly it must work on a lot of people if they're doing it regularly.
- almightygod 15y ago
  I tend to agree with your sentiments and have never thought of applying at facebook. But if I ask myself honestly, it would be hard to turn down "an offer that couldn't be refused" that came personally from Zuckerberg
ArchD 15y ago
See how they treat their engineers. Some of these negative reviews have pretty high ratings: http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Facebook-Company-Reviews-E40772_P2.htm http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Facebook-Company-Reviews-E4... Everything is fine and dandy until you see the actual realities and numbers. I'm curious to know what they engineer turnover rate is.
- blader 15y ago
  You realize that Facebook is the highest rated company on the whole site?
- hello_moto 15y ago
  I think this is expected if you were to work in a company like Facebook. It's a startup. It's unstable. So things like this bound to happen. They need to quickly change directions if required. People that don't align need to be removed. I'm quite sure those special hiree would potentially have their own team hence becoming a tech-lead or some sort so they don't necessary work as a bottom-liner.
  - jarek 15y ago
    Don't you think that calling a seven-year-old company with thousands of employees a start-up dilutes the term a little bit?
- reso 15y ago
  They treat their engineers like rock stars[1]. It is a very intense environment though, in which not all personality types will flourish. [1] http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-is-now-the-best-tech-company-to-work-for-2010-8#no-1-facebook-blows-google-out-of-the-water-25 http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-is-now-the-best-tech...
peterquest 15y ago
That was nice of him to give them an offer they couldn't refuse.
thwarted 15y ago
"He pointed out Apple’s headquarters, then Hewlett-Packard and a number of other big tech companies, the individual explained. Then he pointed to Facebook and said that it would eventually be bigger than all of the companies he had just mentioned, and that if I joined the company, I could be a part of it all." This sounds vaguely familiar. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. -- Matthew 4:8-9 (edit: it's a common theme, one of the oldest is in the Bible, and most are most likely appropriated from there)
- pilgrim689 15y ago
  Oh please.
  - thwarted 15y ago
    I seriously doubt it played/plays out as described, but it seems too strong a similarity (it's a classic Temptation of Christ description, which m__ pointed out below also makes an appearance in The Lion King) to not be the intent of the author of the OP to be hinting at.
    - 18pfsmt 15y ago
      A similar comment was left on the Business Insider[1] post earlier this morning. It does seem quite hyperbolic an insinuation. [1]http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-walk-in-the-woods-2011-7 http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-walk-in-the-w...
  - kmfrk 15y ago
    Search your feelings; you know it to be true.
- gwern 15y ago
  I was actually thinking of _Star Wars_: "Join me, and together we will rule the Valley as CEO and employee!"
orblivion 15y ago
Skeptical employee walks into the woods with Mark Zuckerberg. 30 minutes later, pale faced, sweating employee walks out of the woods and into Zuckerberg's office, and hastily signs employment contract.
seagaia 15y ago
I think the negative reviews need to put into perspective that they just are eliminating people who don't align with the main viewpoints of Facebook - I for one would probably be one of them, the idea of making this giant social networking tool doesn't bring me much joy. I think those people should say more about what led them to Facebook in the first place. If it isn't a love of "connecting" people, then it probably wasn't that great of a reason (e.g., solely money or fame, though I could be wrong)
mikeleeorg 15y ago
Judging from most of the comments here, I'm in the minority, but I applaud Mark for taking such a personal approach to recruiting desired talent. Sure, it can be seen as cheesy when you read about it - but I'm sure each person who got this invite was somewhat impressed and/or flattered by the personal attention. I once wooed a great developer by taking photos of people from my team holding a sign saying, "Hi $Persons_Name!" (where $Persons_Name was the actual candidate's name, of course). Seeing it now, it sounds kinda cheesy and dumb, but it worked. He took the job and rose quickly in the company. This approach may not work for everyone, but it's still admirable that Mark is taking time out of his hectic schedule to try attracting these candidates.
fady 15y ago
what? that's it? this article was boring. why do peeps care about everything Zuc does or says? I expected a little more juice then a few sentences someone said.. <story> My boss took me on three walks on market st in SF before I was hired. I was the first potential employee and I felt as though I was going to get whacked or something...talking about passion, drive, loyalty, and how I can make a big difference and the world is ours. We make 3m+ /year and have 19 employees</story> Im not sure why anyone would care about my story. Was my story interesting? no...articles like this make me feel like the tech world is still in HS :|
- Joakal 15y ago
  People are inherently curious about a young man who had so much success from nothing.
masterponomo 15y ago
I got one of those email invites, to work on my specialty (accessibility features). It was a bit of a fiasco as my chair got stuck in some mud on the trail. MZ kept walking and talking while my wheels spun and dug me ever deeper into the slime. Thank God some other guys came along. I think it was a Honda service manager courting a new mechanic, because they both had tools and the older guy had a "Honda" patch on his shirt. Anyway, I lived, but I didn't get the FB job.
- CWIZO 15y ago
  Wait, he just left you there?!
  - masterponomo 15y ago
    In his defense, I had made a somewhat obnoxiously worded point about not wanting special treatment because of my handicap. I was in no danger. Those woods are rife with people making job offers and someone was bound to come along sooner or later.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
darksaga 15y ago
For all you unfamiliar with sales, this is what's referred to as, "the close". I highly doubt Zuckerberg thought about the biblical overtones. It is, an easy way to close a prospect, and a great way to convince somebody to join Facebook. It would be the same as a highly recruited athlete in high school. You take the tour of the college campus, then they lead you to the stadium and say, "Imagine Nick, 30,000 fans screaming your name every Saturday afternoon." It's just a sales pitch, nothing more, nothing less.
rglover 15y ago
Although this may sound cheesy, anyone who got the chance to participate in something like this would be geeked. What's more is that Zuckerberg has created something that could take on the major tech companies. The best part, he's got 750 million people riding his coattails. He's conscious of the phenomenon that he's created. You'd Simba the fuck out of your programmers too if you were him.
christkv 15y ago
Did he track and kill something for food with his bare hands?

178 points by luigi 15y ago

wccrawford 15y ago

If there's an NDA, how are people talking about it? Seems fishy to me.

Brewer 15y ago
They can talk as much as they want, as long as no body names them. You can't sue someone for breaking an NDA if you don't know who it was that broke it :P
almightygod 15y ago
facebook is most likely more concerned about the facebook projects/inner workings likely discussed during an interview of this type more so then the fact that an interview took place

pak 15y ago

Kind of a cute idea, although if I'm seeing this trail correctly, you wouldn't be starting at the edge of the Facebook parking lot--you cross a hill, then cut through an elementary school, walk a few blocks to Junipero Serra and start up the trail there. Also, the trail itself is not very wooded--more like grassy. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Facebook+Offices,+South+California+Avenue,+Palo+Alto,+CA&hl=en&ll=37.412215,-122.156639&spn=0.012868,0.023775&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=51.708931,97.382812&t=h&z=16 http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Facebook+Offices,+South+Califo...

pingswept 15y ago
I lived in the neighborhood of Facebook's office for a few years. I suspect the "wooded trail" is actually just walking up to the top of the small hill by Peter Coutts Circle. It's actually a pretty nice view for how short a walk it is. If it's not that, it's the trail to the dish, which is not wooded at all. Either way, I don't see how you could possibly see Apple in Cupertino from either place. Take a look at the map, and then look at this random video shot from the dish trail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aar3EH4y1JA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aar3EH4y1JA The camera is pointed in the direction of Cupertino around 1:20 or so. There's no way you can "point out" Apple's campus. You can wave in the right direction, but you can do that from an office too.
- baguasquirrel 15y ago
  Maybe it has something to do with the reporter being from NYC. [full disclosure: I am from NYC]
- 21echoes 15y ago
  given the pictures provided-- it's totally the Peter Coutts hill. I wonder if Mark and the interviewees know how many Paly/Gunn high schoolers get drunk and stoned on that hill all the time?
- thinkcomp 15y ago
  I live there now and the hill is on my running path (as is Facebook HQ, sadly). Apple is many miles south. There's no way you can see it, let alone Google. Next time I talk to Nick Bilton I'm going to give him a hard time over this.

m__ 15y ago

“Then he pointed to Facebook and said that it would eventually be bigger than all of the companies he had just mentioned, and that if I joined the company, I could be a part of it all.” That's how Mufasa pitched Simba.

dpritchett 15y ago

Slick. As an interviewee I do my best to stand up and walk around during an interview; anything to get the brain and charisma going and the jitters forgotten is good for developing a rapport.

hackermom 15y ago

TL;DR: no, he did not kill a pig or a goat this time.

eggbrain 15y ago

"He pointed out Apple’s headquarters, then Hewlett-Packard and a number of other big tech companies, the individual explained. Then he pointed to Facebook and said that it would eventually be bigger than all of the companies he had just mentioned, and that if I joined the company, I could be a part of it all." I know he has to sweet talk employees to join his company, but I can't see this ever happening. Right now Facebook has a valuation of about 80 billion, and a userbase of about 750 million. Assuming he can get the userbase to 1 billion, and assuming he could pass Apple (~200 billion evaluation), that would be $200 per user, when the service is free. I know they get money through advertising and other ways, but that seems kind of high.

BvS 15y ago
Revenues and market cap are losly related at best. Eg Apples revenue last year was around 60 billion while their market cap is currently around 330 billion (around 5.5 times). Facebooks revenue last year was around 2 billion so if this ratio stays (it probably won't) they would "only" need to grow to 9 billion in revenues and already be bigger than Apple. Besides I don't think it will be impossible for facebook to increase their revenues to tenth of billions once they provide display adds outside of facebook etc. (doesn't mean that I think it's likely but it's definitely possible once they really start focussing on monetization).
- eggbrain 15y ago
  The question becomes, once they start focusing on monetization, will people stick around the service for long? I think the Facebook brand has a neutral perception in the community at best, unlike Apple or Google, who have brands that people truly like. Facebook does not get users because they are Facebook (unlike Apple where people would buy whatever Jobs sells), Facebook gets users because it is where everyone else is. If they start to heavily monetize their service, and other services are available (Google Plus, for example), I don't think users are going to stick around solely for the Facebook brand.
  - gojomo 15y ago

ddw 15y ago

Perhaps this was something that was left on the cutting room floor of "The Social Network". Very Hollywood to me.

ForrestN 15y ago

This is so cheesy! I don't know if I could keep a straight face. It's interesting how different the personalities of different companies are, and how deeply those personalities penetrate the way they operate. And, just like human personalities, you just like some companies and you don't like others. I would be completely turned off by the Zuckerberg-worshipping atmosphere being confirmed explicitly by the man himself, but clearly it must work on a lot of people if they're doing it regularly.

almightygod 15y ago
I tend to agree with your sentiments and have never thought of applying at facebook. But if I ask myself honestly, it would be hard to turn down "an offer that couldn't be refused" that came personally from Zuckerberg

ArchD 15y ago

See how they treat their engineers. Some of these negative reviews have pretty high ratings: http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Facebook-Company-Reviews-E40772_P2.htm http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Facebook-Company-Reviews-E4... Everything is fine and dandy until you see the actual realities and numbers. I'm curious to know what they engineer turnover rate is.

blader 15y ago
You realize that Facebook is the highest rated company on the whole site?
hello_moto 15y ago
I think this is expected if you were to work in a company like Facebook. It's a startup. It's unstable. So things like this bound to happen. They need to quickly change directions if required. People that don't align need to be removed. I'm quite sure those special hiree would potentially have their own team hence becoming a tech-lead or some sort so they don't necessary work as a bottom-liner.
- jarek 15y ago
  Don't you think that calling a seven-year-old company with thousands of employees a start-up dilutes the term a little bit?
reso 15y ago
They treat their engineers like rock stars[1]. It is a very intense environment though, in which not all personality types will flourish. [1] http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-is-now-the-best-tech-company-to-work-for-2010-8#no-1-facebook-blows-google-out-of-the-water-25 http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-is-now-the-best-tech...

peterquest 15y ago

That was nice of him to give them an offer they couldn't refuse.

thwarted 15y ago

"He pointed out Apple’s headquarters, then Hewlett-Packard and a number of other big tech companies, the individual explained. Then he pointed to Facebook and said that it would eventually be bigger than all of the companies he had just mentioned, and that if I joined the company, I could be a part of it all." This sounds vaguely familiar. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. -- Matthew 4:8-9 (edit: it's a common theme, one of the oldest is in the Bible, and most are most likely appropriated from there)

pilgrim689 15y ago
Oh please.
- thwarted 15y ago
  I seriously doubt it played/plays out as described, but it seems too strong a similarity (it's a classic Temptation of Christ description, which m__ pointed out below also makes an appearance in The Lion King) to not be the intent of the author of the OP to be hinting at.
  - 18pfsmt 15y ago
    A similar comment was left on the Business Insider[1] post earlier this morning. It does seem quite hyperbolic an insinuation. [1]http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-walk-in-the-woods-2011-7 http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-walk-in-the-w...
- kmfrk 15y ago
  Search your feelings; you know it to be true.
gwern 15y ago
I was actually thinking of _Star Wars_: "Join me, and together we will rule the Valley as CEO and employee!"

orblivion 15y ago

Skeptical employee walks into the woods with Mark Zuckerberg. 30 minutes later, pale faced, sweating employee walks out of the woods and into Zuckerberg's office, and hastily signs employment contract.

seagaia 15y ago

I think the negative reviews need to put into perspective that they just are eliminating people who don't align with the main viewpoints of Facebook - I for one would probably be one of them, the idea of making this giant social networking tool doesn't bring me much joy. I think those people should say more about what led them to Facebook in the first place. If it isn't a love of "connecting" people, then it probably wasn't that great of a reason (e.g., solely money or fame, though I could be wrong)

mikeleeorg 15y ago

Judging from most of the comments here, I'm in the minority, but I applaud Mark for taking such a personal approach to recruiting desired talent. Sure, it can be seen as cheesy when you read about it - but I'm sure each person who got this invite was somewhat impressed and/or flattered by the personal attention. I once wooed a great developer by taking photos of people from my team holding a sign saying, "Hi $Persons_Name!" (where $Persons_Name was the actual candidate's name, of course). Seeing it now, it sounds kinda cheesy and dumb, but it worked. He took the job and rose quickly in the company. This approach may not work for everyone, but it's still admirable that Mark is taking time out of his hectic schedule to try attracting these candidates.

fady 15y ago

what? that's it? this article was boring. why do peeps care about everything Zuc does or says? I expected a little more juice then a few sentences someone said.. <story> My boss took me on three walks on market st in SF before I was hired. I was the first potential employee and I felt as though I was going to get whacked or something...talking about passion, drive, loyalty, and how I can make a big difference and the world is ours. We make 3m+ /year and have 19 employees</story> Im not sure why anyone would care about my story. Was my story interesting? no...articles like this make me feel like the tech world is still in HS :|

Joakal 15y ago
People are inherently curious about a young man who had so much success from nothing.

masterponomo 15y ago

I got one of those email invites, to work on my specialty (accessibility features). It was a bit of a fiasco as my chair got stuck in some mud on the trail. MZ kept walking and talking while my wheels spun and dug me ever deeper into the slime. Thank God some other guys came along. I think it was a Honda service manager courting a new mechanic, because they both had tools and the older guy had a "Honda" patch on his shirt. Anyway, I lived, but I didn't get the FB job.

CWIZO 15y ago
Wait, he just left you there?!
- masterponomo 15y ago
  In his defense, I had made a somewhat obnoxiously worded point about not wanting special treatment because of my handicap. I was in no danger. Those woods are rife with people making job offers and someone was bound to come along sooner or later.
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]

darksaga 15y ago

For all you unfamiliar with sales, this is what's referred to as, "the close". I highly doubt Zuckerberg thought about the biblical overtones. It is, an easy way to close a prospect, and a great way to convince somebody to join Facebook. It would be the same as a highly recruited athlete in high school. You take the tour of the college campus, then they lead you to the stadium and say, "Imagine Nick, 30,000 fans screaming your name every Saturday afternoon." It's just a sales pitch, nothing more, nothing less.

rglover 15y ago

Although this may sound cheesy, anyone who got the chance to participate in something like this would be geeked. What's more is that Zuckerberg has created something that could take on the major tech companies. The best part, he's got 750 million people riding his coattails. He's conscious of the phenomenon that he's created. You'd Simba the fuck out of your programmers too if you were him.

christkv 15y ago

Did he track and kill something for food with his bare hands?