On Building vs Playing Games

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value

A colleague pulled me aside, worried that my writing might affect my future and how it can affect my career progressing. Their concern was genuine. Thank you. Here's what makes this interesting:

Basic reality check:

1. I write about patterns from my years of experience

2. No specific companies named

3. No current situations referenced

4. Just patterns I've observed

But here's what's actually fascinating: After selling my companies, I chose to work here. That's not an accident. In multiple years, I've rarely seen a company so focused on building real things instead of playing corporate games.

Simple truth: Most companies optimize for politics. This one optimizes for building. That's rare. That's valuable. That's why I'm here.

Could I be a C-level exec somewhere else? With my direct style, probably not. Do I want to be? No. I'd rather build company number three than play perception management games. But right now, I'm genuinely interested in the problems we're solving.

About that "noise" concern:

1. I share observed patterns from past experience

2. If someone sees themselves in these patterns, that's their recognition, not mine

3. In a company focused on building, pattern recognition is actually useful

4. In a company focused on politics, it would be threatening

Here's why I'm not worried: Builders care about what's true. Politicians care about what's comfortable. I'm in a company of builders.

End state: Financial independence means I choose where I want to be. I choose to be here because this is one of the few places where seeing patterns clearly is an asset, not a liability.

Reality is simple: When you find a company that prefers building over pretending, that's worth appreciating, and worth investing time and energy into, even if it may be a bit uncomfortable.