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> One problem in dealing with large, young companies (especially tech) is that most of them have a sense of entitlement. [...] It feels like legacy Hollywood, f

> One problem in dealing with large, young companies (especially tech) is that most of them have a sense of entitlement. [...] It feels like legacy Hollywood, for all its faults, understood how to square ego circles better to get deals done. I don't know much about this "tech culture", but are you sure that they really have this sense of entitlement? Couldn't it rather be that these "tech people" are simply less experienced in "deal politics" and bootlicking important stake holders?

justin66 2y ago
Jesus. For starters don't call dealing with your stakeholders "bootlicking."
- aleph_minus_one 2y ago
  > For starters don't call dealing with your stakeholders "bootlicking." What is it then?
  - ethbr1 2y ago
    Pragmatism.
    - b112 2y ago
      Indeed. You're not bootlicking or kowtowing, to simply meet as equal partners and determine what both sides need, want. The best deals, I find, are where "everyone wins". This is entirely achievable, as both parties have different goals. What has value to one, may be meaningless to another. I've brokered deals where I gave nothing I cared about, yet that same point was of immense value to the other party. Yet when you simply wave away the other's requests, that's madness. In the example given, what is the cost for Google sharing data from maps? Almost nothing. It has value, but the cost of cloning that data is absolutely minimal. The legal agreements and NDAs for that data are more expensive than any other aspect of the agreement. And if that data has no value to the client, but they think they want it, even better! Now you're giving them something they don't really need, that you don't have a cost in giving, and it's now a bargaining chip with an innate value! Beautiful, absolutely beautiful! I can even picture a scenario a month or two down the line. The client is baffled a bit by the API, what they receive. Now you consult for them, in an additional arrangement, and provide better integration, etc. Instead of shutting them down (you wouldn't know what to do with it), you sell it to them as they wish, then teach them what to do with it! What an awesome business opportunity! And of course during that arrangement, you may fine more revenue streams. And ones that, indeed, help the client even more! Never shutdown a client like that. Of course, the story could be exaggerated, or mistold.
Vaslo 2y ago
If you come into a situation and decide not to “bootlick” as you say, you better be one of the best at what you do or you are going to have a very stuck if not short career. When someone new comes and works for me or for anyone at my company they better be “bootlicking” higher ups and doing what they ask or they won’t last.

justin66 2y ago

Jesus. For starters don't call dealing with your stakeholders "bootlicking."

aleph_minus_one 2y ago
> For starters don't call dealing with your stakeholders "bootlicking." What is it then?
- ethbr1 2y ago
  Pragmatism.
  - b112 2y ago
    Indeed. You're not bootlicking or kowtowing, to simply meet as equal partners and determine what both sides need, want. The best deals, I find, are where "everyone wins". This is entirely achievable, as both parties have different goals. What has value to one, may be meaningless to another. I've brokered deals where I gave nothing I cared about, yet that same point was of immense value to the other party. Yet when you simply wave away the other's requests, that's madness. In the example given, what is the cost for Google sharing data from maps? Almost nothing. It has value, but the cost of cloning that data is absolutely minimal. The legal agreements and NDAs for that data are more expensive than any other aspect of the agreement. And if that data has no value to the client, but they think they want it, even better! Now you're giving them something they don't really need, that you don't have a cost in giving, and it's now a bargaining chip with an innate value! Beautiful, absolutely beautiful! I can even picture a scenario a month or two down the line. The client is baffled a bit by the API, what they receive. Now you consult for them, in an additional arrangement, and provide better integration, etc. Instead of shutting them down (you wouldn't know what to do with it), you sell it to them as they wish, then teach them what to do with it! What an awesome business opportunity! And of course during that arrangement, you may fine more revenue streams. And ones that, indeed, help the client even more! Never shutdown a client like that. Of course, the story could be exaggerated, or mistold.

Vaslo 2y ago

If you come into a situation and decide not to “bootlick” as you say, you better be one of the best at what you do or you are going to have a very stuck if not short career. When someone new comes and works for me or for anyone at my company they better be “bootlicking” higher ups and doing what they ask or they won’t last.