When I was working on the Chapters (now Indigo) web site, I was “in charge.” Lots of people during the time of the Internet bubble took this “in charge” stuff very seriously. For the founders of some start ups, being ‘in charge’ was a ticket for some serious ego explosion.
When we gave out baseball jackets to the founding group, I had this put on the back of my coat vs. the President stuff.
From time to time, people will come up to me and ask about it. I tell people, it was a reminder not to let much go to my head. I still wear it as an ego control reminder while the web 2.0 hype machine is cranked up to maximum settings.
Just a small reminder to keep some perspective because, you never know how all these things work out. Keep your sense of humor, don’t worry about titles and enjoy the ride.
Just in case….
Thankfully I seem to be immune. I'm a sysadmin at heart, and a manager only because it's the only way to keep other people from interfering in what I'm doing.
But the most glamorous part of being a sysadmin is the times when you get to be the cow's proctologist...most of the time you're focused on shovelling the manure. It helps to keep the one person the computer is compelled to regard as all-powerful and God-like humble.
Posted by: Matt | March 14, 2006 at 05:23
I was a "Rick's Ranger" while at Chapters during the height of it existence, right b4 the indigo era. Rick, you might not have believed that being "in charge" was a big deal (I remember you saying over and over again the we were "delivering books, NOT kidneys so relax!") and I agree with you 100%, but most people @ Chapters took it seriously because really looked up to and believed in you! I was asked by my fellow employees on more then one occasion to just sit in on a meeting with you, because they were to intimidated to be in your presence alone (seriously). You see, we all thought Chapters was going to be the Canadian Amazon and we would all be rich! I had $80,000.00 in options at one point. I have since learned that you can't eat stock options! Talking to ex-Chapters alumni, the Chapters experience to most of us was probably as close as we were going to get to what you experienced while @ MS and I believe that's due to the culture you demanded. So go a head and keep your ego in check but be sure to not let your modesty show too much on the outside because people need a leader!
Posted by: Keith Glover | April 29, 2007 at 23:44