Big companies aren’t all evil
(May 4th, 2007)
Sometimes I get the impression (and perhaps even give it) that all big companies are evil and small startups are good. This is, of course, a false generalization. Big companies are naturally bureaucratic, true, but that’s not the same as evil. One startup I worked for was described to me as a sweat shop. The employees all left with a bad taste in their mouth, but only after a lot of heartache. The problem in small companies is that people often care about the success of the company much more than they do at a big company. Passion is a good thing, but when it gets misdirected it can be a source of great pain. This is especially true when things are not going well. In a small company, when things are going poorly it is very easy for people to stop looking forward and start looking internally at how other people in the company are doing. To get in their faces and try to make them perform. This never works, but it’s an easy trap to fall in to.
My most recent experience with a bigger (though certainly not big) company was actually very good. After working as a contractor for a few months it became clear that they were facing financial difficulties. Not surprisingly, they decided to get rid of all their contractors. This is par for the course and something you expect from time to time. What they did next, however, showed the kind of thoughtfulness and class you don’t normally get. They went out of their way to get my banking information and pay me in a few days. Shortly after getting paid they went into chapter 11. When a company goes into bankruptcy, contractors who are owed money may never see any of it, and if they do it won’t be for a long time. Not a problem for Accenture, but losing a couple of months of payments means a lot more to a consultant like me. How many small companies would have gone that extra distance?
May 4th, 2007 at 9:25 am
There is another unpleasant aspect to startups that I wish someone had reminded me about.
” Startups are not a democracy. Want a democracy? Go run for class president, Bueller.”
- Mark Fletcher, founder of bloglines in his 15 startup commandments
http://www.startupping.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347
May 4th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
I like the energy of a startup. There is all of that potential, and if the early employees have a stake, a very real chance to break out of the rat race. Big companies pay well, but the upside? Working another 25 years until I retire; how painful is that? These days you can’t even trust them not to lay you off just after fifty. In a big company, it is far better to conserve your energy; you might need it just before you retire.
I only want to work hard, if hard work will really make a different. If the only effect of my contribution is to net the CEO a new BMW, it’s very difficult for me to find any personal motivation. But if it is to get rich, or to change the world; either way I find it easier to justify putting in a massive effort.
Paul.
May 10th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Hey Kevin,
I agree to your points.There are always pros and cons of working in a startup.I have worked for a startup during the initial days of my career where the work was wonderful.The only problem with the startup was the MD of the company would abuse the employees and would also say F* O .It is quite obvious people won’t stay in such companies.But on the other hand,there are good experiences with startups as well.IMHO,the bottom line is : It all depends on how the startup has been groomed ie the initial guys in a startup are very important.
And yes,big tags are always liked by everyone
By the way,your bio was nice where you have mentioned that every person should have an experience of staying in India..That was really nice 
-Himanshu J Sheth
(Contributor to http://startups.in)
(Celebrating the spirit of Entrepreneurship at http://thoughtsprevail.blogspot.com)
(Google Key Words : Himanshu+Sheth)