An entertaining account of Google’s founding from one of the earlier (non-technical) employees. The guy seemed in over his head, but then again so was everyone else. It’s interesting to think how many times Sergey Brin and Larry Page would have been fired in a normal company. The management event discussed here is discussed in detail for example.
“Only become an astronomer if nothing else will satisfy you; for nothing else is (approximately) what you will receive.” and “The popular conception of scientific research: “You must be so very clever to be able to do it” could not be wider of the mark. Real investigation is not the reception of a transcendental vision, a process thought beyond the power of the ordinary mortal. The prayer of the scientist might well be: Lord, show me the obvious.”
Repeat after me: no one is irreplaceable, no one is irreplaceable. Say that to yourself when you feel that you are making foolish life decisions for your work. Be passionate, be committed, be clever, be the best. But remember, no one is irreplaceable. Don’t overdo it.
Stop the discrimination against men in science! Kidding aside, if you are a talented woman in science, you will have a better chance of getting a permanent position than your equally talented male colleague. Maybe this will result in better departments overall both in culture and productivity, maybe it is appropriate as a cure of past bias, or maybe it sucks. Remember though, the path is not easy for anyone: it’s a long hard slog with few prestigious positions available. Talent, timing, and luck all play a role (and not equal ones). No matter who you are, don’t get sucked into a victim mentality. See here and the journal article.
I wish government and other industries would learn from this. Steve jobs famously said (must watch interview by the way) that a 2x better bus driver doesn’t get you there 2x faster. That’s not true in some fields, like his, where a 25x software programmer (they really exist) could equal billions more in revenue.
People who go into finance aren’t bad people, they’re just misguided. Kidding aside, rationally (meaning translated to pay), our society tells people that finance is one of the most important possible fields to go into. And lack of regulation translates to any means necessary. From the article: “talented people become what we economists call “rent seekers.” Instead of creating wealth, rent seekers simply transfer it — from others to themselves.”