Re:37signals Earns Millions Each Year. Its CEO’s Model? His ...
by radicalbyte on Wednesday August 29, 2012 @03:40PM
(#4450640)
^ is what I love about HN.
Is it better to stand by and let them get on with it, or to join them and provide a different opinion? A counterbalance?
I'm in the second camp; work with people, spread your ideas. Give it a try.
Of course I'm also of the opinion that, at board level, it's healthy to have a range of opinions. Only then can you make informed and reasonable decisions.
For the observant (or the fellow Hollanders), we call it the Polder Model (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polder_Model).
Re:37signals Earns Millions Each Year. Its CEO’s Model? His ...
by mbreese on Wednesday August 29, 2012 @04:18PM
(#4450866)
> at board level, it's healthy to have a range of opinions
This is very true... perhaps its one reason why Groupon is struggling so much. Without knowing the board dynamics, its impossible to say, but if I was in their position, I'd want people on the board criticizing every move. So long as it wasn't a majority of the board that is...
Re:37signals Earns Millions Each Year. Its CEO’s Model? His ...
by gojomo on Wednesday August 29, 2012 @04:05PM
(#4450785)
I thought your prior response (linked to by the comment that started this digression; "453 days ago") was sensible and sufficient. But thanks for chiming in again and definitively.
First, let's get your facts straight: I have not invested a penny in Groupon. I haven't put any personal money into any private company other than my own. I was awarded options as compensation for participating on the board, just as other board members were.
Why did I give them advice? Because they asked me for it and I thought I could help. A lot of people ask me for advice, and i'm happy to help where I can. I don't have to agree with someone on everything to give them advice. I like Andrew, he asked me to help him, I wanted to help him, I'd never served on a board before, so it sounded like a great learning experience. It was - I don't regret the experience at all.
Andrew knew where I stood - and where I stand - on VC, investments, growing quickly, hiring a bunch of people, etc. He was interested in my perspective on product, design, and user experience, not on financing, growth, etc.
I was asked to leave the board in 2010.