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Alok's Posts / Startup

Why does anyone work for anyone, anyway?

I am inspired to write this post following a rather eventful Monday evening. Zapak.com folks tried poaching a few of my colleagues and they came complaining to me that those phone calls were irritating them….


I posted a strong rebuke on my Facebook profile (facebook.com/rodinhood), which at last count had received 82 likes and 48 comments.



Another day in 2 win Paradise:




This also led me to introspect – why do people work for other people, when and for how long?


I believe:


  • Folks like leaders. The leader may be very forceful and strong willed and difficult, but if she is always objective about her goals, then people appreciate such vision and determination. They emulate such leadership in their lives and hence work for such people. (The Army etc) – Typical age of folks- 18-21
  • A great learning experience. Some Companies just offer you unbelievable learnings. Almost do-it-yourself canvasses. Enterprising folks love it! (most Start up’s offer this culture). Typical Age of folks – 21-30
  • A great working atmosphere – this has to do with people, the general set up, the non political climate and just hanging out (MTV India in the very initial days, The Bigger IT/Pharma Companies today). Typical age – 30-40/50
  • Pots of money – these are the places where old planes go to retire. These are the hangars. The job sucks, the politics is horrible, everything is pathetic. But the money is awesome. Just to sit quietly and take home the cheques. Age – 40/50-60

The challenge is when some 21 year olds opt for the Job of a 50 year old (Hangar) or an 38 year old suddenly joins a start up and finds it chaotic. I dont even need to tell you what would happen if a 60 year old were to join the Army. 


People naturally make the right choices since their culture, their backgrounds, their common sense and their peers guide them. So, when they get confusing calls or disrupters messing up their head, they quickly sort themselves out and go back to the center of gravity.


For the folks who forget their age, or what is good for them, all I can do is show them the way to the Coffin Maker….


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  1. Abhishek Mathur said:

    And what age at do people stop working for anyone else ?

    When they become entrepreneurs!!!!

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