Fortune Favors The Bold

juliefredrickson:

markcoatney:

John:

I’ll start by saying it has been an absolute joy and privilege to be the President of Tumblr these past four years

To work alongside these special people, with our intense focus on product, positivity, fun and whimsy — from our small team came what is now a community of over 50…

My favorite John story, from the time two years ago when I was wavering on whether to leave Newsweek to take a job a Tumblr:

Me: So I’m kind trying to figure out what I should do here. I mean, everyone I know has heard of Newsweek; nobody knows what Tumblr is.

John: Let’s analyze this. Basically, there are three things that can happen here. You could come and think we’re all dicks, in which case we’ll help you look for another job. Or you could come and we all decide that you’re a dick, and then we’ll help you look for another job. Or, you could come and it will be awesome.

And that sold me. It’s been nothing but outcome ‘c’ since I’ve been here, and that in no small part is due to John. He’ll be missed. 

Alternate ending! People exterior to Tumblr will think you are dicks!* 

*COATNEY IS NOT A DICK

Since when has anyone in a company actually helped a misfit employee find alternate means of working? If Mother Teresa had made that promise to me it would have rung hollow.

Sounds like it’s real easy for people at Tumblr to tell someone else to enter into an agreement where the other party bears the brunt of the meaningful risk! (Thank goodness for Coatney that the undesired outcome was not achieved here) That sounds about right after everything I’ve heard, but not personally experienced. My intent is not to judge people who work at Tumblr by stating that observation, but to point out that the road to your own personal hell can surely be paved with someone else’s good intentions. 

Also, “everybody’s heard of Newsweek” is literally the only productive asset or property of Newsweek right now, so let’s not give John too much credit for upselling here. They are probably working on their next cover story right now, “Is The Length Of Obama’s Thumb Ruining America?” 

(Source: john)