FIG News Blog

Nowhere to run…

Posted by James King at 1:00 10/09/09

I want to start this article with one of the funniest and scarily accurate emails I’ve ever received.

I emailed a friend of mine, a successful guy who has a high-powered position at a bank, to get his opinion on the FIG website. He’s incredibly bright and enjoys his job. But, you will see why, I will be choosing to keep his identity private…

From: "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX”
Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:25:44 +0200
To: James King;
Subject: RE: General content

The website is really good mate. Nice articles, not sure I have any great topics to add although...

My experience of working in a bank/what I do everyday, is that someone will ask you to do something so you ignore them, then they'll get in touch with you a day before it's due and say "have you done it?". When you ignore them again, then usually their manager will ask you to do it, so you do it as the manager needs it done really urgently and you just say you've been so busy with other stuff that you haven't had the time but you'll do it straight away. So you do it, and the manager is so happy that you've done it that they tell your manager that you're doing a great job and everybody who matters thinks your great. This is how I get away with doing very little/being regarded as awesome.
 
No one is denying you didn't look awesome in your suit; you just looked 80's awesome.

I'm sat watching the ashes on Sky Sports 1. We get Sky Sports 1 through Windows Media Player at work, it's so good.

Yeah I might be up for Amsterdam, let me know the dates.

All the best,
XXXXXXX

After receiving this email and creasing up with laughter, I emailed it to several guys and girls who, like a few of us at FIG, have worked in a mixture of Blue Chip huge corporates and small start-ups.

The response was unanimous. Not only did it remind us all of how many people got away with slacking at big companies, but it highlighted to us all that there is no room for that in start-ups.

For a start, you can see everyone in a small office! Most people can actually see each other’s screens. If you are slacking off there is a severe danger of someone throwing a shoe at you. And unless you have George Bush like reactions, that can be less than fun.

In a small company you have to take responsibility – if you say, “Ohh but I thought Drew was doing it”, Drew can simply turn around and say "Ah, sorry about that, I'm doing it now "/ "That's rubbish! That was your job!". There is no emailing back and forth or waiting to speak to managers who waste time 'trying to get to the bottom of it'.

This environment builds strong and close knit teams. It enables quick communication, rapid decision making and can foster a lot of banter.

This in turn fosters a lot of laughter and frequently uttered phrases such as “look at this YouTube thing” and “don’t show me videos like that ever again”.

As a result, start-ups can be efficient, flexible and fun… but they are hard work and there is no way to avoid that.
 

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