Screw all y'all, I love this article. It's a sequence of true statements with a hard to swallow and idealistic conclusion, but it's absolutely right.
The only upside to an acquisition is money. Does that often make it the right, logical choice? Of course. Put that aside.
Once you're acquired by a larger more beaurocratic organization, your company dies (perhaps quickly, perhaps slowly), your projects flounder or become administratively managed, your ability to innovate quickly goes away. In short, your dream dies.
His personal accounts of this happening are on the money and are not uncommon effects.
Facebook is a grand counterexample. Zuckerberg didn't sell out when the company was young and he was offered ridiculous buyouts because facebook wouldn't exist today in the same way if he had. The dream would have been killed. Far-fetched example, but maybe true.
Of course it's important to think about reality, of course you have to look at the real world too; of course of course of course. No one can deny you that perspective.
But just maybe, let all that go for one second, and think from an idealistic perspective. Be a dreamer. Don't go after the most logical realistic thing right away. Or at least consider it.
Because we need those companies too. We need companies that can dream, and innovate, and remain independently fueled with a common goal and a vibrant workforce. We need companies that aren't acquired because we need dreamers to think big, so the world can go somewhere better—rather than just somewhere with bigger bank accounts.
The only upside to an acquisition is money. Does that often make it the right, logical choice? Of course. Put that aside.
Once you're acquired by a larger more beaurocratic organization, your company dies (perhaps quickly, perhaps slowly), your projects flounder or become administratively managed, your ability to innovate quickly goes away. In short, your dream dies.
His personal accounts of this happening are on the money and are not uncommon effects.
Facebook is a grand counterexample. Zuckerberg didn't sell out when the company was young and he was offered ridiculous buyouts because facebook wouldn't exist today in the same way if he had. The dream would have been killed. Far-fetched example, but maybe true.
Of course it's important to think about reality, of course you have to look at the real world too; of course of course of course. No one can deny you that perspective.
But just maybe, let all that go for one second, and think from an idealistic perspective. Be a dreamer. Don't go after the most logical realistic thing right away. Or at least consider it.
Because we need those companies too. We need companies that can dream, and innovate, and remain independently fueled with a common goal and a vibrant workforce. We need companies that aren't acquired because we need dreamers to think big, so the world can go somewhere better—rather than just somewhere with bigger bank accounts.