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Putting aside whether he is toxic or not, does anyone else not quite understand his example? > A sales rep was at a "mixer" that he was not told to go and mana

Putting aside whether he is toxic or not, does anyone else not quite understand his example? > A sales rep was at a "mixer" that he was not told to go and managed to get two prospects. Not knowing the exact terms of the reps employment, but almost all of the sales reps I've dealt with work with commission. So in this particular case, they were told to go out and sell. So really they weren't going "above and beyond", they were doing their job to get paid. Unlike engineering, they may not have worked during the day time, so doing this in the evening is just them shifting their schedule, and doing their job with a good attitude. Basically C's to use his scale.

marcusverus 3y ago
Yeah, “Hustling is innovation” sounds like bro science. I say this as a bro myself. It honestly sounds like he’s parroting some decent startup specific advice that he doesn’t really understand. I read it as: C’s execute workflows. These are the “I don’t know why we do it this way, I just work here.” people. B’s improve workflows. They understand the “why”. They can reliably own and improve workflows/processes. A’s improve systems. They understand that optimal business processes require optimal systems, and have the hutzpah to engage on that level. They’re the ones who sidle up to the founder at the water cooler and say “have you noticed that these two departments are duplicating work?” This mindset only makes sense in a startup, where things are constantly in flux; where you’re not only delivering widgets, you’re building a company. To succeed at doing both, it’s not enough to have a bunch of ICs who execute their workflows and go home. You really need to be surrounded by “systems thinkers” who are aggressively injecting order into the chaos. In a corporate setting, where the status quo is more deliberate and static, the calculus is very different.
- hurrdurr56 3y ago
  Pretty much, this policy would only fly in a very small company where a very competent and attentive CEO is personally overlooking everyone's work and gives everyone a very long leash to work with. In the corporate world, if you try to innovate or attempt to improve on an established process, you're most likely going to face disciplinary action unless you are very high up the ladder. C's and D's (and sometimes E's and F's) are A's, Actual A's and B's are insubordinate and unprofessional.
arcastroe 3y ago
I think the important part in this example was texting him about being at the mixer. Make sure your manager always has visibility into your work. "Average work" looks exceptional when your manager knows everything you've done, but looks mediocre when your manager is unaware.

marcusverus 3y ago

Yeah, “Hustling is innovation” sounds like bro science. I say this as a bro myself. It honestly sounds like he’s parroting some decent startup specific advice that he doesn’t really understand. I read it as: C’s execute workflows. These are the “I don’t know why we do it this way, I just work here.” people. B’s improve workflows. They understand the “why”. They can reliably own and improve workflows/processes. A’s improve systems. They understand that optimal business processes require optimal systems, and have the hutzpah to engage on that level. They’re the ones who sidle up to the founder at the water cooler and say “have you noticed that these two departments are duplicating work?” This mindset only makes sense in a startup, where things are constantly in flux; where you’re not only delivering widgets, you’re building a company. To succeed at doing both, it’s not enough to have a bunch of ICs who execute their workflows and go home. You really need to be surrounded by “systems thinkers” who are aggressively injecting order into the chaos. In a corporate setting, where the status quo is more deliberate and static, the calculus is very different.

hurrdurr56 3y ago
Pretty much, this policy would only fly in a very small company where a very competent and attentive CEO is personally overlooking everyone's work and gives everyone a very long leash to work with. In the corporate world, if you try to innovate or attempt to improve on an established process, you're most likely going to face disciplinary action unless you are very high up the ladder. C's and D's (and sometimes E's and F's) are A's, Actual A's and B's are insubordinate and unprofessional.

arcastroe 3y ago

I think the important part in this example was texting him about being at the mixer. Make sure your manager always has visibility into your work. "Average work" looks exceptional when your manager knows everything you've done, but looks mediocre when your manager is unaware.