Movie Management, episode 1
Over the years, I’ve often given sermons on management ideas using lines taken from great films. Movies are very memorable, meaning if you can link a clever work idea to them in someone’s mind, it’s a huge win. Thought I’d collect a few of my favorites here for the benefit of future generations.
“Never get off the boat, unless you are going all the way.”
Martin Sheen’s character in Apocalypse Now says this after watching an amazing scene in which one soldier is chased by a tiger after foolishly leaving the heavily armed patrol boat to take a leak: The usual behavior of a company is to wander half-heartedly into areas where it will not try hard enough to really succeed. Generally, this is because there isn’t the right risk model – no individual is actually held accountable for success (or failure). Everyone is involved, but noone is committed. Here’s the trick: Most of the time, do almost nothing. Work much less than your competition. Say no to everything. Take shortcuts. But when you decide to get off the boat, know that you are going in the water, and play only to win .
“Good night, Westley. Good work. Sleep well. I’ll most likely kill you in the morning.”
The Dread Pirate Roberts was a much better boss than most. Westley’s job wasn’t ever safe. He actually had to keep adding value. Most people don’t. Most work lacks both urgency and accountability. Should you really receive a fixed salary, forever, just because you were once useful to the company? This is extraordinarily inefficient. A great company should pay you according to how much value you have added in the period for which you were paid. Seems simple enough, doesn’t it?
“Fear is the Mind-Killer”
This is one of those ones that everyone think is cool and says but that noone actually understands. In all likelihood, almost everything you do at work (and possibly most of the rest of your life) is done in a state of fear. But you don’t think so, do you? Next time you are in a meeting, put your hands under the table in your lap, and turn them face up. That’s a vulnerable position. Try to keep your hands that way during the meeting. See how hard it is? That’s because you are scared. You are protecting, negotiating, hedging. Lose your fear, and you will be able to do much greater things. But (and this is the tough part), actually losing your fear means accepting and embracing that you are actually afraid. Letting yourself really feel it, experience it, and then moving through it and beyond it. Google the rest of that quote (the whole poem) and think about it.
OK so I’m going to put these 3 up, cause it’s almost lunchtime and I’ve got other stuff to do. Looking back, these are rather warlike, masculine examples – there are many other great ones too in different directions. Will work on another set later.
Do you really believe “how much value you have added in the period for which you were paid” is a simple thing to measure? (You *did* say “Simple, isn’t it?”)
And you worked for a company that developed software?
Stunning.
One that always springs to mind for Linden Lab…”We are going to need a bigger boat”
MaggieL: Yes, you are right, I should be saying more there. Software development is in many cases hard to value. That’s why we built the rewarder – it’s actually the optimal mechanism, I think. Basically, the ‘blink’ valuation of your work by all your peers is the most accurate measure of your contributions.
Philip: It’s great to be rewarded for your efforts..but something i have found in life that really bugs me…Im a lateral thinker!..i come up with solutions to many problems..and usually pretty fast…but no-one wants to pay me..i get things like…”gee,you fixed that with a wire coat hanger”..or ” hey, that wasn’t hard to do, took you 2 mins”.
This is what i do best(thinking outside the box) but no-one can see the value in something that they assume ..(only after i have done it) that they could have done themselves…Cheers Ginger
“Towanda!” Fried Green Tomatoes. May still seem somewhat warlike, but not as masculine. Those ladies had to overcome a ton of obstacles to be able to run that little business of theirs.
Side Note: I’m not really sure how masculine The Princess Bride is. Hate to be a RL Debbie Downer, but don’t let the presence of Andre the Giant fool you next time. It’s a love story. Is it not?
Next time I’m in a meeting I’m going to try putting my hands out, face up, above the table and try keeping them that way. Hopefully the meeting will be with Angel Investors. I’m ready to get off the boat.
Please listen to me, you have less than a 1% chance of knowing any better.
In regards to your project LoveMachine; You are promoting managerial skills which you do not have. You loudly ignore recent findings, judged by the fact your lovemachine is based off what *not-to-do*, giving rewards (ooh looky, I have more love than you, therefore, I am better than you) has *several* flaws, there is no love in holding a carrot on a stick. Please research further.
In regards to SL(partially related to your blurbs here); This is what .. appears to be everyone.. thinks of your managerial ability. wo0hoo.com/2010/an-open-letter-to-philip-rosedale/
I would love to know, how in future years, you plan to pull off managerial talks, without having the majority looking confused when you imply the world is still flat.
Quote :The Dread Pirate Roberts was a much better boss than most. Westley’s job wasn’t ever safe. He actually had to keep adding value. Most people don’t. Most work lacks both urgency and accountability. Should you really receive a fixed salary, forever, just because you were once useful to the company? This is extraordinarily inefficient. A great company should pay you according to how much value you have added in the period for which you were paid. Seems simple enough, doesn’t it? – unquote
If you keep people on their toes they burn up and having burned them up, just discard them? Seems pretty callous, doesn’t it? Typical short term American thinking!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fw1s5bOcDs