I love top 10 lists.
I’m a big ol’ sucker for them.
They’re often informative and entertaining. Not to mention quick to read and digest – so
fits right into my schedule. One of my
latest favorites is one done by Susan Moon over at Above the Law, “You
know you work in house when…” . It
was all the more funny because I related to each and every one of them. I was a pregnant nun for my first Halloween
at Volusion, (and still didn’t win the costume
contest, my 80’s ‘back to school’ costume was a winner though!) I have used “that’s a business decision” more
than once today alone, and I know for a fact there is no one more evil than our
competitors.
As much as I loved this list, it was a little incomplete for
me. I’ve spent most of my career working
for technology companies. Half of that
time I’ve been working for or with internet companies just out of startup mode. And that’s definitely a different world. So here’s a supplemental list for those of us
who took that chance on a new(ish) tech company.
1.
At least one department is nicknamed the “cave”
or “dungeon” because its employees refuse to turn on the lights, preferring to
work by glow of the monitor like they did in their mother’s basement.
2.
Shoes are optional. Shorts and t-shirts are
acceptable office wear.
3.
Wearing anything resembling a suit will get you
multiple questions of where you’re interviewing that day and if your boss
knows.
4.
Contracts?
We don’t need no stinking contracts…
5.
Going to the break room often entails dodging Nerf
gun fire. And the CTO is usually the
best shot.
6.
The only way to get guaranteed attendance at a
meeting is to provide food AND beer.
7.
The employees refer to you as “mom” or “dad”,
regardless of the fact that they’re older or the same age as you. “Mom’s not going to like that!” “I don’t know
if that’s how we should do it, let’s ask Mom”…
8.
“Do more with less” is not just a motto, it’s a
competitive sport. MacGyver has nothing
on these guys.
9.
You get asked about the limits of workman’s comp
with regards to “meetings” offsite, where go-cart accidents “may” have injured
the new VP.
10.
You were in college when your founder was in
diapers, and he was probably smarter than you then too.
What would you add?
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