Michael Lopp Keynote @rands - Stable & Volatiles - RailsConf 2013

gistfile1.md

Michael Lopp Keynote @rands

Stables and Volatiles

• Humans are bad at making decisions (see eletrical outlets)

• Why no one single plug?

• Look at Apple's plugs

• You're in a hurry

• Your gig has an expiration date

  • Switch jobs about every 3 years
  • Nothing left to solve, so we get bored

• 1.0 is going to kill you

  • It didn't exist yet
  • You have to make every decision

• 40 years ago: Some asshole pissed off some people, they took off and make:

• Egalitarian Workspace

  • Flat organization
  • Speed
  • Collaboration
  • Results orientation

• Engineers just care about value creation

• Only 1/10 startups succeed

• There's a spectrum of builders

• Archetypes

  • Stable
    • Happily work with directions, schedules, etc
    • Play nicely w/ others
    • No drama
    • Calmly assess risk
    • Mitigate risk
    • Generates a lot of process since process creates predictability and measurability
    • Salience in decision making
      • (Toaster experiement)
      • People tend to choose based on your most recently learned data
  • Volatiles
    • Define strategy, not follow it
    • Can't conceive of failing
    • Thrill in risk
    • Often don't build predictable thing, but they build a lot of things
    • Often only reliable if its in their best interest
    • Prefer to work in small, autonomous teams
    • They couldn't care less how you feel
    • Salience in decision making
      • (Toaster experiement)
      • Volatiles choose FLYING TOASTERS (After Dark screensaver)

• These folks hate each other, with good reason

• Volatiles make absurd pitches, do it anyway, and (sometimes) skyrocket

• Volatiles become Stables

  • New Volatiles piss off original Volatiles, who become Stables
  • So either new/old Volatiles leave to go be volatile elsewhere
  • This is how companies die
    • Oracle, IBM, HP, etc

• Do you want to coast and die, or disrupt?

• Back to lotsa plugs

  • Apple has a history of throwing things away
  • Trashing iPod to release iPod nano?
    • It's more important to disrupt and stay ahead of the competition
  • Apple doesn't want to become Stable

• You need both Stables and Volatiles on your team

• Stables remind you of reality. They give you predictability.

• Volatiles reminds you nothing lasts. They replace everything boring.

• Build an appreciation of the other side of the fence.

• Throw stuff away that you cherish.

• Distribute blank slates

• Equal representation of - and investment in - S and V

• Only Stables: build a lot of products, but its uninspired.

• Only Volatiles: build a lot of stuff, but nothing is finished

• Stagnation = Death

• Humans are bad at decisions individually

• Build a world where S&V can thrive

• Need more flying toasters!