The book ‘Powerful” by Patty McCord talks about hiring and the overall culture at Netflix. Patty was an early recruiter there and these days consults startups by teaching how and what to hire. If you have read No Rule Rules by Reed Hastings, I don’t think you need to read this book. Building an initial …
Author Archives: Atul
needs
Is there an end to our needs? How much do we need for a rational living? Has consumerism increased our unwanted needs? Or is this attributed to the progress of humanity? Or all the mobile apps you have bought membership of from meat, grocery to food delivery for 10 mins delivery. Does it matter? Are …
missionary
We need people in a team like a missionary, with a common goal and belief, ones who are with us for long-term gain. Building a startup is not for everyone. It requires a lot of patience, persistence, and perfection. As a missionary team, we should have a common purpose. Everything falls in place. And every …
mercenaries
When building a startup for long-term success, the team should avoid mercenaries. One simple reason for this is that mercenaries think for the short term and about themselves first. They want the best outcome for themselves and, when the ship is sinking, they will be the first to disappear. If paid more, mercenaries will also …
mutual tolerance
I am halfway through the book: How democracies die. One part of the book talks about mutual tolerance and its importance in keeping democracy alive. It means running the country together with some disagreement among the ruling and opposition. At the same time, the government and judiciary work together and keep democracy alive. Once mutual …
daily
Our brain is a stupid beast. Either we tame it or get enslaved to it. In the book power of habit, the author talks about how little incremental regulations can do wonders in the long run. At the same time, breaking the habit affects adversely. Quitting a daily virtue is easy but getting back takes …
others
We console ourselves with projecting externals in a particular manner. We want to be part of the crowd. Not everyone has the courage or guts to go against the odds. We are living two lives apart: real and reel. Social media has amplified and increased the projection and seek for recognition. The urge of being …
locked
Some blame their upbringing or economic condition for ending up as an underachiever. They feel locked with the limited resources in their life. I have over half a dozen friends who still blame their parents for not letting them go abroad for higher studies. Reading Autobiographies, I see a different picture. Most successful entrepreneurs fought …
If not coffee?
I have been in a few conversations and, some of my friends advocate not to drink coffee. Their simple analogy is coffee affects our sleep and, it’s a drug worth avoiding. A few others tell me coffee intake can result in an uneven heartbeat. If you are a runner, it will have more adverse effects. …
someone
We want to leave a legacy that outlives us. We want to make a better world for others. It drives us crazy. We secretly expect to be loved, respected for all our contributions. We want to be live the messiahs of the past. But at what tradeoff? What are we missing out on family, parents, …