Our Startup's One Guiding Principle

Re:Our Startup's One Guiding Principle by pilgrim689 on Tuesday July 05, 2011 @12:55PM (#2730593)

Second startup I hear phrasing it as "no ego". I get pedantic on that word choice. I think "don't be an asshole" is way more accurate :P. For example, I have a very strong ego (ego is defined as high self-esteem, high self-importance), but I always admit I know nothing about something, or that I'm wrong, or that someone made a valid point that trumps me, or I've made a mistake, etc. In fact, I'd even say that it feeds my ego to do these things.

But this concept of open-mindedness is hard to phrase in a catchy way like "no ego", admittedly.

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Re:Our Startup's One Guiding Principle by lawrence on Tuesday July 05, 2011 @02:02PM (#2730838)

Well said. I think you need a little swagger to handle the overwhelming odds against you as a startup. What you don't need are assholes.

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Re:Our Startup's One Guiding Principle by rmorrison on Tuesday July 05, 2011 @02:24PM (#2730932)

There is nothing wrong with a little swagger, or confidence. However, adopting "no assholes" isn't quite enough: a non-asshole can still let their ego get in the way of their work and their team. For example, by refusing to admit fault.

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Re:Our Startup's One Guiding Principle by true_religion on Tuesday July 05, 2011 @02:21PM (#2730916)

Perhaps they mean it as written---no self-importance.

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