In a conversation years ago, [Steve] Jobs said he was disturbed when he heard young entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley use the term “exit strategy” — a quick, lucrative sale of a start-up. It was a small ambition, Mr. Jobs said, instead of trying to build companies that last for decades, if not a century or more.
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From “Can Apple Find More Hits Without Its Tastemaker?” (NY Times)
From “Can Apple Find More Hits Without Its Tastemaker?” (NY Times)
David Andersen
on 20 Jan 11To each his own Steve.
Michael
on 21 Jan 11They simply are not capable like he is. He shouldn’t laugh at people doing the best they can.
Matt Keller
on 21 Jan 11I think what Jobs meant was, “exit strategy” has a certain cynicism about it; it lacks the passion that drives the kind of innovation Apple has made its hallmark. Many of those young entrepreneurs are not talking about creating a product that has true and lasting value – but simply capitalizing on the “irrational exuberance” that can surround the launch of a “cool” new product, even before a viable revenue model has been established.
The sad converse to this is, some of those young entrepreneurs who did have a passion for their product but succumbed to a lucrative sale option – like Joshua Schachter of Delicious – came to regret taking the money and losing the control, forced to watch their innovations languish in the corporate culture of their deep-pocketed buyers.
I have nothing against people who want to make a fast buck – but I more admire Jobs for being disturbed that it was a prevailing cultural wind that, to him, smelled a lot like bullsh*t.
Wesley Anderson
on 22 Jan 11The article continues with this…
I think that is a key point. Yes, sometimes the exit strategy is probably just a cynical ploy to exploit “irrational exuberance” as Matt says and flip a company for fast cash.
On the other hand, people have different entrepreneurial strengths. Some might build a company with the goal of selling it and then moving on to the next deal (Mark Cuban springs to mind) which might be more in line with their strengths than trying to build a company into a juggernaut as Steve Jobs has done.
jojomonkey
on 23 Jan 11those are simply the day traders of tech startups. start something promising (maybe on paper and maybe even in reality), get bought out. you’re in and you’re out – quick and ‘easy’.
Sérgio Laranjeira
on 25 Jan 11For starters it was definitely the best book I read. Easy to read and understable in the starters point of view. Changed a lot in my vision as a worker and as a part of a company. Quick Wins that’s what this book brought to me and my company. A lot of people may say some ideas are absurd, that’s their point of view, I accept the opinions but don’t agree.
Thank you for this amazing book and keep up the good work.
J Mueller
on 25 Jan 11The motivation of someone who focuses on an “exit strategy” could mean their passion / vision is different than someone who focuses on long term, adaptive growth. However, in some industries, the “exit strategy” is what moves the product from testing phrase to real world mass production (medical devices).
In the end, often the final result looks the same. Jobs may have been disturbed by the “exit strategy” focus early in the game, but even he sold NeXT to Apple and Pixar to Disney (exiting both).
This discussion is closed.