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I have a bunch of friends who work at Tesla. They do work hard, one of whom works waaaaay too hard, but it's meaningful work. They're changing the world. It's

by jessep 14y ago

I have a bunch of friends who work at Tesla. They do work hard, one of whom works waaaaay too hard, but it's meaningful work. They're changing the world. It's a similar feeling I get from people I know who work at Apple.

waterlesscloud 14y ago
Nothing wrong with working hard, but the "below average compensation" is something to look at a bit more closely.
- eps 14y ago
  Stock options plan would be another thing to look at a bit more closely.
  - chollida1 14y ago
    Agreed, with their disappointing stock performance from the beginning of the year on, stock options would definitely be one thing to really examine and determine if they would be worth anything at all.
    - loceng 14y ago
      Really? That's the direction you took? You realize what Tesla is doing is going to destroy the oil economy - dependency on oil for cars - and practically eliminate the need to pay for re-fueling your car once you own it? Or is it that you just don't believe it?
      - jusben1369 14y ago
        loceng your comment falls directly into the "Drinking the Kool Aid" bucket. If Tesla was such a sure thing then their stock price would reflect that. It doesn't because people who assess it still see a lot of risk to go along with a lot of upside. So it's fair to ask "If you're taking a reduced salary in exchange for stock options how likely is it that you'll be rewarded?" Right now the jury is out. It's important to remember that Tesla has no real competition to their core market right now. Mid to High end electric cars. Once they prove out the concept they'll face stiffer competition. I do hope they'll succeed and think Musk is one of the greatest visionaries and innovators of our time. That doesn't mean you don't get to ask hard questions around execution and competition. As to the OP and original thread I think the question would be "Do a Google search on your four or five favorite startups/companies around "X working environment" Does Tesla feel disproportionately represented by negative comments or inline with the others relative to age and size. EVERY hard charging company has disgruntled folks. It's a question of proportionality I think.
      - chollida1 14y ago
        > Really? That's the direction you took? You realize what Tesla is doing is going to destroy the oil economy - dependency on oil for cars - and practically eliminate the need to pay for re-fueling your car once you own it? Or is it that you just don't believe it? Calm down:) All I was responding to was a couple of comments about working for below average wages, bad work environment and the performance of Tesla's stock, which has been a bit disappointing over the past year. I do think that Tesla will become profitable, but I don't' think for a second that it will "destroy the oil economy". And consider for a second this statement: > "practically eliminate the need to pay for re-fueling your car" I don't' think Tesla has any such goal, as far as I know they still require you to refuel your car by plugging it into an electricity source. Electricity is literally the new fuel source. How are you imagining that this is going away? Or are you using fuel in a narrow manner to refer to only oil based fuel?
        loceng 14y ago
        Tesla are setting up Supercharger stations to refuel cars. From my understanding they are garage-port like things with solar panels on them, that recharge themselves. Solar cells can last a long time, and the technology will continue to improve. For climates with less sun there will likely need to be an alternate method of generating energy, though that will all be figured out. Read the following for details of I'm talking about, re: free to refuel your car - http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-motors-launches-revolutionary-supercharger-032000226.html http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-motors-launches-revoluti...
        bandy 14y ago
        So, you're saying that people who have sufficient disposable income to purchase a very expensive sports car that they can only "refuel" near their home needn't worry about how much it's going to cost them to do so? I'm relieved.
        jeremyarussell 14y ago
        If that's your proof for Tesla ruining the oil economy then your standing on thin evidence, as bandy said. The only people getting unlimited free charging are the people that just bought the new model S, AND they have to get to one of the stations. Also personally I could care less if the oil business's crash after Tesla becomes even cheaper and widespread. People may think global warming may or may not exist, but as I ride a bike to work, and breath all the car fumes that pass by, and get light headed just from that, well I'm not too worried about not having more gas burning cars around.
    - scott_s 14y ago
      Of course one should determining what one thinks the stock options will be worth in the future, but the current stock performance has little bearing on that.
coliveira 14y ago
I understand the geek/social effect of saying that you work for Apple or any other well perceived company, but get real: you're no changing the world. You would change the world if you were one of the first few employees at Apple, or nowadays if you are a high ranking executive/manager. Other than that, you're just a small piece in the engine. Maybe an independent developer is doing more to change the world than an employee at Apple.
- stcredzero 14y ago
  > You would change the world if you were one of the first few employees at Apple, or nowadays if you are a high ranking executive/manager. Other than that, you're just a small piece in the engine. “Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it” --Mahatma Gandhi
  - mmagin 14y ago
    I don't think Gandhi was suggesting people devote their life to working at Apple.
    - ImprovedSilence 14y ago
      no, but it's the sum of seemingly un-important things that actually end up creating a great meaning. Be a part of it.
- jeremyarussell 14y ago
  Getting a similar feeling from Apple employees as Tesla employees doesn't mean Apple employees are really changing the world, it just means that the Apple employees genuinely believe that they are.

by jessep 14y ago

waterlesscloud 14y ago

Nothing wrong with working hard, but the "below average compensation" is something to look at a bit more closely.

eps 14y ago
Stock options plan would be another thing to look at a bit more closely.
- chollida1 14y ago
  Agreed, with their disappointing stock performance from the beginning of the year on, stock options would definitely be one thing to really examine and determine if they would be worth anything at all.
  - loceng 14y ago
    Really? That's the direction you took? You realize what Tesla is doing is going to destroy the oil economy - dependency on oil for cars - and practically eliminate the need to pay for re-fueling your car once you own it? Or is it that you just don't believe it?
    - jusben1369 14y ago
      loceng your comment falls directly into the "Drinking the Kool Aid" bucket. If Tesla was such a sure thing then their stock price would reflect that. It doesn't because people who assess it still see a lot of risk to go along with a lot of upside. So it's fair to ask "If you're taking a reduced salary in exchange for stock options how likely is it that you'll be rewarded?" Right now the jury is out. It's important to remember that Tesla has no real competition to their core market right now. Mid to High end electric cars. Once they prove out the concept they'll face stiffer competition. I do hope they'll succeed and think Musk is one of the greatest visionaries and innovators of our time. That doesn't mean you don't get to ask hard questions around execution and competition. As to the OP and original thread I think the question would be "Do a Google search on your four or five favorite startups/companies around "X working environment" Does Tesla feel disproportionately represented by negative comments or inline with the others relative to age and size. EVERY hard charging company has disgruntled folks. It's a question of proportionality I think.
    - chollida1 14y ago
      > Really? That's the direction you took? You realize what Tesla is doing is going to destroy the oil economy - dependency on oil for cars - and practically eliminate the need to pay for re-fueling your car once you own it? Or is it that you just don't believe it? Calm down:) All I was responding to was a couple of comments about working for below average wages, bad work environment and the performance of Tesla's stock, which has been a bit disappointing over the past year. I do think that Tesla will become profitable, but I don't' think for a second that it will "destroy the oil economy". And consider for a second this statement: > "practically eliminate the need to pay for re-fueling your car" I don't' think Tesla has any such goal, as far as I know they still require you to refuel your car by plugging it into an electricity source. Electricity is literally the new fuel source. How are you imagining that this is going away? Or are you using fuel in a narrow manner to refer to only oil based fuel?
      - loceng 14y ago
        Tesla are setting up Supercharger stations to refuel cars. From my understanding they are garage-port like things with solar panels on them, that recharge themselves. Solar cells can last a long time, and the technology will continue to improve. For climates with less sun there will likely need to be an alternate method of generating energy, though that will all be figured out. Read the following for details of I'm talking about, re: free to refuel your car - http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-motors-launches-revolutionary-supercharger-032000226.html http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-motors-launches-revoluti...
        bandy 14y ago
        So, you're saying that people who have sufficient disposable income to purchase a very expensive sports car that they can only "refuel" near their home needn't worry about how much it's going to cost them to do so? I'm relieved.
        jeremyarussell 14y ago
        If that's your proof for Tesla ruining the oil economy then your standing on thin evidence, as bandy said. The only people getting unlimited free charging are the people that just bought the new model S, AND they have to get to one of the stations. Also personally I could care less if the oil business's crash after Tesla becomes even cheaper and widespread. People may think global warming may or may not exist, but as I ride a bike to work, and breath all the car fumes that pass by, and get light headed just from that, well I'm not too worried about not having more gas burning cars around.
  - scott_s 14y ago
    Of course one should determining what one thinks the stock options will be worth in the future, but the current stock performance has little bearing on that.

coliveira 14y ago

I understand the geek/social effect of saying that you work for Apple or any other well perceived company, but get real: you're no changing the world. You would change the world if you were one of the first few employees at Apple, or nowadays if you are a high ranking executive/manager. Other than that, you're just a small piece in the engine. Maybe an independent developer is doing more to change the world than an employee at Apple.

stcredzero 14y ago
> You would change the world if you were one of the first few employees at Apple, or nowadays if you are a high ranking executive/manager. Other than that, you're just a small piece in the engine. “Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it” --Mahatma Gandhi
- mmagin 14y ago
  I don't think Gandhi was suggesting people devote their life to working at Apple.
  - ImprovedSilence 14y ago
    no, but it's the sum of seemingly un-important things that actually end up creating a great meaning. Be a part of it.
jeremyarussell 14y ago
Getting a similar feeling from Apple employees as Tesla employees doesn't mean Apple employees are really changing the world, it just means that the Apple employees genuinely believe that they are.