The Suits and the Techies

From time immemorial, the techies have ruled over the suits. Don't get it twisted, even though you make and maintain the stuff of your company, and you had better exam scores at tougher subjects, in the end, those silly MBAs get to hire and fire and take all the money. Read the cautionary tale of the new layoffs at myspace.com (Remember when myspace was the coooolest thing and the most promising company? but now it's facebook this facebook that.)

Sometimes the techies are the suits. Ah, that's nice: 45million dollar yacht nice. Although it seems that kind of convergence causes premature aging. Oh my God I'm old - when did Larry Page (Google cofounder, with Sergey Brin) turn 37?


Anyway, learn, and don't get screwed, eh:

As recently as Nov 18th, Mike Jones, the now CEO of Myspace, sat in front of the entire company, thanking them for their extraordinary efforts... He and his executive team had just somehow driven hundreds of people to work hard for months, giving 20 hour days, even 48 hour sleepless stints... motivating the team with statements like "do you believe in this company or not?", "either you're in or not", and "look at what we can do when we do it together".

.... At the same time, the Myspace execs... were all being rewarded with new deals (including Jones becoming CEO), including raises and promotions... The executive team was busy plotting secret back-room deals to prevent a sale of Myspace by News Corp and to instead spin out Myspace into their control (likely taking most of the equity and giving themselves more personal gain)...

After the dust settles, the people who were in charge and responsible for the continued failure will still be in charge, with new titles and raises, clearly intent on taking as much personal value as they can from the company before it dies completely at their hands. And the hard working, loyal employees that worked their butts off, took time away from their families to *actually* try to turn the company around by building and launching the new Myspace, will be looking for jobs.

If nothing else, this ex-MySpace employee's letter will serve as a reminder to anyone contemplating an insane work commitment that voluntary overtime is just that: Voluntary. If you're not getting paid, you should make sure there's something in it for you other than a promise. Read more at valleywag: worked like dogs