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Isn't this really just "actually a startup" mode vs. "a growing, professionalizing company" mode? This footnote was what got me: > [1] The more diplomatic way
by smeej 2y ago
Isn't this really just "actually a startup" mode vs. "a growing, professionalizing company" mode?
This footnote was what got me:
> [1] The more diplomatic way of phrasing this statement would be to say that experienced C-level execs are often very skilled at managing up. And I don't think anyone with knowledge of this world would dispute that.
I've not founded startups. I just work in them. I'm not even a terribly important worker. AI bots are absolutely coming for my job.
But this is when I know a company has left "actually a startup" mode in the way that I can enjoy it and thrive in it, and when it's transitioned to "a growing, professionalizing company" mode, in which I wish them the best, but GTFO because I hate working in companies like that:
As soon as there are three layers of management between me and the CEO, all of whose roles primarily require them to prove that they are somehow "managing" my work, even though they don't have the first clue how to do my work, the company isn't in its startup stage anymore. It's a whole different kind of company, and not one I choose to stay in. I just go find somewhere else to help get to that stage.
"Professional managers" and "startups" are incompatible. Startups have to be able to move and pivot so fast that there's no use for a "manager" who doesn't actually know how to do the work of those they manage. They're going to be called on to fill in for those people far too frequently. They're dead weight if all they know how to do is "manage."
There is eventually a stage when you want those people, but trying to move to it too early, around your C or D when the VCs are telling you that you should, is fatal. Everyone who made the existing thing good is going to get crowded out by sycophants who don't have the deep cultural knowledge of and commitment to your product. All they know how to do is blow smoke up the right skirts at the right times.
- DeborahWrites 2y agoI'm belatedly learning this lesson (you'd think I'd have caught on earlier in my career) I very much want to stick to small young startups in future, but there's less demand for tech writers there.
- smeej 2y agoYou might have trouble finding opportunities to do this full-time anywhere, but if you could manage the documentation and knowledge base (especially if they're training AI bots internally and to support customers from it) for 3-4 client companies, you might be able to make that work. Good technical writing is especially important now. I guess you can try to train bots on the codebase itself, but unless that's pretty well documented, I wouldn't expect as much from that as training them on good technical documentation.
- DeborahWrites 2y agoYeah I freelanced for 4yrs before returning to employee-land in 2022. I think I'm going to go back to it eventually, but nervous in the current market.
- k__ 2y agoStartups need tech writers very much, but only at a certain size you can do it full time at one company. Either you freelance and work for multiple companies or you add other skills to your portfolio. For example - creating videos of your articles/docs - hosting events like hackathons or meetups - developing libraries or integrating the product with popular platforms