>>Larry Page assigned the project to me. He said, “Build some kind of email something” and chose me because I had an interest in email.
This is how you know you've found an awesome developer - someone who only needs to be given only a high-level vision of what is needed, and who can then run with it, fill in the details, and deliver something more awesome than you thought possible.
Reminds me of the famous "Message to Garcia" essay from way back in 1899: (http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/199th/ocs/content/pdf/m...)
Or, a more current parable found in a post by Benjamin Hardy(1):
A certain farmer had become old and ready to pass his farm down to one of his two sons. When he brought his sons together to speak about it, he told them: The farm will go to the younger son.
The older son was furious! “What are you talking about?!” he fumed.
The father sat patiently, thinking.
“Okay,” the father said, “I need you to do something for me. We need more stocks. Will you go to Cibi’s farm and see if he has any cows for sale?”
The older son shortly returned and reported, “Father, Cibi has 6 cows for sale.”
The father graciously thanked the older son for his work. He then turned to the younger son and said, “I need you to do something for me. We need more stocks. Will you go to Cibi’s farm and see if he has any cows for sale?”
The younger son did as he was asked. A short while later, he returned and reported, “Father, Cibi has 6 cows for sale. Each cow will cost 2,000 rupees. If we are thinking about buying more than 6 cows, Cibi said he would be willing to reduce the price 100 rupees. Cibi also said they are getting special jersey cows next week if we aren’t in a hurry, it may be good to wait. However, if we need the cows urgently, Cibi said he could deliver the cows tomorrow.”
The father graciously thanked the younger son for his work. He then turned to the older son and said, “That’s why your younger brother is getting the farm.”
1 https://benjaminhardy.com/one-behavior-separates-successful-...