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Simplicity Rules

Adam DuVander on keeping it simple

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Hire lucky or hire smart?

May 9, 2005 by Adam DuVander

From everything I saw in 2002, looking for programming work was tough. The years before that, folks were handing out jobs to those with even a seedling of coding talent.

Then came the economic U-turn. A recurring joke amongst programmers looking for work during 2002-2003 was that a position description would ask for the world, including ten years of Java experience. Then we would all chuckle, because Java is a new language, invented in 1995 (the joke ends when Java turns ten this month).

While the most superstar programmers have jobs now, there are still companies looking to hire the best (via Jason Kottke). It was with this in mind that I sat down Sunday afternoon to finally read Lucky or Smart? by the co-founder of Tripod.

I found out about this book from Brad Feld, whose review mostly just listed the table of contents:

  1. Lucky or Smart?
  2. Entrepreneurs Are Born, Not Made
  3. Entrepreneurs are B-Students. Managers are A-Students.
  4. Great Is the Enemy of Good
  5. Start-Ups Attract Sociopaths
  6. Practice Blind Faith
  7. Learn to Love the Word “No”
  8. Prepare to Be Powerless
  9. The Best Defense Is a Gracious Offense
  10. Don’t Believe Your Own Press. In Fact, Don’t Read.
  11. Always Be Selling Your Stock
  12. Know What You Don’t Know

And there it is, the title of the third chapter, the reason I wanted to read the book: Entrepreneurs are B-Students. Managers are A-Students.. Never have I been prouder of my three-point-oh. Managers certainly have their spot in the workplace, but to have an innovative company, it probably is a good idea to hire some of us slackers.

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  • Laws of Simplicity

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