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> At some point, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies will likely have to shift from this work-when-you-can-but-don't-expect-money model to something a bit mor

by jokoon 12y ago

> At some point, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies will likely have to shift from this work-when-you-can-but-don't-expect-money model to something a bit more conventional with, you know, employees. People need to understand that money is not the goal there, the goal is to improve transport standards. I'm sure the best CEO and investors understand that money is just an abstract measure, you can't dismiss money, so you must insert money in your strategy, but it's just to make it compatible with the current economic model. People in companies work not to say "look at my paycheck" but rather "look at what I made". The goal is to make something better. Who cares if the business model is shaky or out of the box or unconventional, the goal is keeping research and improvement makings going. Nobody likes to be an employees, but I don't see everyone knowing enough engineering and having the initiative to design some new technology like that.

vinkelhake 12y ago
> People in companies work not to say "look at my paycheck" but rather "look at what I made". People also work in order to, you know, pay bills and put food on the table.
- fludlight 12y ago
  These aren't mutually exclusive when the labor market is sufficiently hot, as it is right now for engineers of most specialties. The SpaceX guys are making less than they could at boring Boeing, but that still comes out to a respectable sum.
- jokoon 12y ago
  well that's also what people would do in the soviet union and in 20th century China money is a mean, not an end.
grecy 12y ago
> People need to understand that money is not the goal there, the goal is to improve transport standards Which is the really cool thing about Telsa and SpaceX - Elon has said many times if you want to make a quick buck, don't buy Tesla because that's not what they're trying to do. They're trying to advance the world's knowledge and ability to design and build all-electric cars - making a profit is not the goal, nor is it even important. As long as they break even, they can keep going. I look forward to a future where more and more companies have the goal of making the world a better place, not the goal of making ever increasing profits.
pweissbrod 12y ago
How can someone claim they successfully improve transport standards without keeping cost-effectiveness in consideration?
- debacle 12y ago
  Anything is possible in a press release.
- jokoon 12y ago
  Well oil was cost effective, until it was not. Who knows, maybe there will be no breakthrough in battery design, maybe electric cars will always more expensive than conventional cars because of batteries. Is investing in new technology really cost effective ? Nobody knows, it's a risk, and politically you have to make that risk. Cost effectiveness is just a measure. You don't ask an accountant to see if a technology is cost-effective, you let engineers design something that do more with less, and do a proper use of levers. Cost-effectiveness will be the mean, not the end.

by jokoon 12y ago

vinkelhake 12y ago

> People in companies work not to say "look at my paycheck" but rather "look at what I made". People also work in order to, you know, pay bills and put food on the table.

fludlight 12y ago
These aren't mutually exclusive when the labor market is sufficiently hot, as it is right now for engineers of most specialties. The SpaceX guys are making less than they could at boring Boeing, but that still comes out to a respectable sum.
jokoon 12y ago
well that's also what people would do in the soviet union and in 20th century China money is a mean, not an end.

grecy 12y ago

> People need to understand that money is not the goal there, the goal is to improve transport standards Which is the really cool thing about Telsa and SpaceX - Elon has said many times if you want to make a quick buck, don't buy Tesla because that's not what they're trying to do. They're trying to advance the world's knowledge and ability to design and build all-electric cars - making a profit is not the goal, nor is it even important. As long as they break even, they can keep going. I look forward to a future where more and more companies have the goal of making the world a better place, not the goal of making ever increasing profits.

pweissbrod 12y ago

How can someone claim they successfully improve transport standards without keeping cost-effectiveness in consideration?

debacle 12y ago
Anything is possible in a press release.
jokoon 12y ago
Well oil was cost effective, until it was not. Who knows, maybe there will be no breakthrough in battery design, maybe electric cars will always more expensive than conventional cars because of batteries. Is investing in new technology really cost effective ? Nobody knows, it's a risk, and politically you have to make that risk. Cost effectiveness is just a measure. You don't ask an accountant to see if a technology is cost-effective, you let engineers design something that do more with less, and do a proper use of levers. Cost-effectiveness will be the mean, not the end.