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I think those who run companies are often stupid and incompetent, and the workers are probably right most of the time. Just look at the quote again, there's lot

I think those who run companies are often stupid and incompetent, and the workers are probably right most of the time. Just look at the quote again, there's lots of things people don't know when they're starting a company. It would be nice if being smart and competent was the key to success in our society, but you hint at the real key to success in your own comment--getting favor and money from those who already have it. You didn't really engage with the other half of my comment, but I'll say it again, in general our society seems to be crumbling and our ability to get things done efficiently and with competence is waning. Hopefully the right people can get the blessing of venture capitalists to fix this (/s).

yibg 2y ago
The problem isn't that those who run companies are stupid and incompetent (which his probably true). It's that the people lobbing those jabs would also be stupid and incompetent if they were running the companies but thinks they have the answers.
- Buttons840 2y ago
  Right. I agree that we all have our share of stupidity and incompetence. Some of us are stupid and incompetent on a worker's salary, and some of us are stupid and incompetent on a CEO's salary. See, for example: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38849580 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38849580
WalterBright 2y ago
> I think those who run companies are often stupid and incompetent If you've never run a business, it can sure seem that way. > the real key to success in your own comment--getting favor and money Nobody is going to invest in your startup unless you convince them that you're capable of making money for them.
- rakejake 2y ago
  Not sure why this thread got consumed by a strawman that "Most people running businesses are stupid/incompetent". That is obviously not true. What I have realized is that most employees never do even a basic analysis of their industry vertical, the key players and drivers etc. Even low-level employees who will never come face-to-face with customers can benefit from learning about their industry. The flip side is that a lot of business people (I exclude people who start their own companies or actively take an interest in a vertical) are also mostly the same. They care about rising from low-level business/product role to a senior role, potentially C-suite role, and couldn't care less about how they make this happen. Many times, it is hard to measure a business person's impact (positive or negative) - think about Boeing. All their pains today were seeded more than 20 years ago with a series of bad moves but the then CEO walked off into the sunset with a pile of cash and a great reputation. OTOH, there was a great article yesterday on HN from Monica Harrington, one of the founders of Valve whose business decisions were crucial to Valve's initial success, but had to sell her stake in the company early on. I think business, despite its outsize role in the success/failure of a company, follows the same power law of talent that most other professions carry. Most people are average, some really good, some real greedy etc.

yibg 2y ago

The problem isn't that those who run companies are stupid and incompetent (which his probably true). It's that the people lobbing those jabs would also be stupid and incompetent if they were running the companies but thinks they have the answers.

Buttons840 2y ago
Right. I agree that we all have our share of stupidity and incompetence. Some of us are stupid and incompetent on a worker's salary, and some of us are stupid and incompetent on a CEO's salary. See, for example: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38849580 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38849580

WalterBright 2y ago

> I think those who run companies are often stupid and incompetent If you've never run a business, it can sure seem that way. > the real key to success in your own comment--getting favor and money Nobody is going to invest in your startup unless you convince them that you're capable of making money for them.

rakejake 2y ago
Not sure why this thread got consumed by a strawman that "Most people running businesses are stupid/incompetent". That is obviously not true. What I have realized is that most employees never do even a basic analysis of their industry vertical, the key players and drivers etc. Even low-level employees who will never come face-to-face with customers can benefit from learning about their industry. The flip side is that a lot of business people (I exclude people who start their own companies or actively take an interest in a vertical) are also mostly the same. They care about rising from low-level business/product role to a senior role, potentially C-suite role, and couldn't care less about how they make this happen. Many times, it is hard to measure a business person's impact (positive or negative) - think about Boeing. All their pains today were seeded more than 20 years ago with a series of bad moves but the then CEO walked off into the sunset with a pile of cash and a great reputation. OTOH, there was a great article yesterday on HN from Monica Harrington, one of the founders of Valve whose business decisions were crucial to Valve's initial success, but had to sell her stake in the company early on. I think business, despite its outsize role in the success/failure of a company, follows the same power law of talent that most other professions carry. Most people are average, some really good, some real greedy etc.