constructive nonconformist

Urgency is Poisonous

… in the software industry urgency is self-imposed and morale-busting.

— Jason Fried
Signal vs. Noise: Urgency is poisonous

Proud to be Working for the Monster

In 1998 a remake of Godzilla starring Matthew Broderick was released and the US DOJ filed an anti-trust case against Microsoft. The Boston Globe published a political cartoon depicting Microsoft as Godzilla rampaging through a city.

The company I worked for at the time had contracted to have a Microsoft consultant on site and he posted the Godzilla cartoon in a prominent position on the outside wall of his cubicle.

He didn’t post the cartoon in irony or outrage. He liked the image of Microsoft in the cartoon and he was proud to be part of the monster that was stomping everything in its path.

You might be thinking this is just an anecdote about Microsoft arrogance. It isn’t.

This man loved his job. Gotta respect someone who’s found that kind of career happiness.

Word On Pizza Incident

This story goes back over ten years.

I was working for a small company in Venice, CA. I think it was a Friday afternoon. I don’t remember the reason for the occasion but the company ordered in pizza for everyone and we all gathered in the conference room.

The pizza was from a local place in the neighborhood. Marc was extolling its virtues. Jerry, the company Vice President, was in the room. Marc brought up that Jerry had skills as a chef and made his own pizza at home. “Jerry’s pizza is as good as this pizza,” Marc proclaimed.

At which point I failed to stifle a laugh.

Now Marc considered me a rival and he was quick witted. He saw an opportunity and he acted. He chastised me for laughing at the idea that Jerry’s pizza could be as good. I was surprised and dumb-founded by this turn of events. Instead of correcting Marc I was speechless.

So Jerry, if you read this, it wasn’t my intent to offend. Just the opposite. But I think you knew that.

Marc’s transparent attempt at self-promotion was amusing but what really made me laugh was that I thought the brought-in pizza was absolutely terrible and that anyone even semi-competent in the kitchen (and Jerry was known to be more than semi-competent) could make a far superior pizza.

I feel so much better now that I’m getting the last word — ten years late.