Re:Why I would never want to compete with Travis Kalanick
by puranjay on Wednesday February 04, 2015 @03:19PM
(#8999430)
I said this in an earlier thread as well.
TK comes across as a businessman. The kind of living embodiment of those motivational mantras 'business and marketing' accounts have on Instagram (except his is the 'work hard, work harder' dictum, not the 'work hard, party hard')
In contrast, the people who run Google - Page, Brin and (earlier) Schmidt - come across as nerds who just happened to build an absolutely amazing product. Their commitment is to their tech first, not their business. Yes, they will mow down rivals if need be, but they won't do it as unapologetically and single-mindedly as TK
TK reminds me a bit of Bill Gates in the late 80s and 90s - smart as hell and ruthlessly driven.
I wouldn't want to compete against 90s-era Gates. Or 90s era Larry Ellison. He would probably outwork, outnetwork and outsell me. I might have a chance of outsmarting him, but that isn't nearly enough.
(no, that's hyperbole. I have no chance in hell of outsmarting Gates or Ellison or TK)
TK comes across as a businessman. The kind of living embodiment of those motivational mantras 'business and marketing' accounts have on Instagram (except his is the 'work hard, work harder' dictum, not the 'work hard, party hard')
In contrast, the people who run Google - Page, Brin and (earlier) Schmidt - come across as nerds who just happened to build an absolutely amazing product. Their commitment is to their tech first, not their business. Yes, they will mow down rivals if need be, but they won't do it as unapologetically and single-mindedly as TK
TK reminds me a bit of Bill Gates in the late 80s and 90s - smart as hell and ruthlessly driven.
I wouldn't want to compete against 90s-era Gates. Or 90s era Larry Ellison. He would probably outwork, outnetwork and outsell me. I might have a chance of outsmarting him, but that isn't nearly enough.
(no, that's hyperbole. I have no chance in hell of outsmarting Gates or Ellison or TK)