A Smart Guy's Frank Take on Working in Major Tech Companies (2018)

> Google avoided the job class of architect — which was both high status and low accountability, making it an easy place for pricey senior people to park and not have much impact (Sun Microsystems was notorious for having lots and lots of architects)

> Google avoided the category of project manager, which would have allowed engineering managers to avoid the grungy part of their job (and be out of touch with engineering realities)

Pretty forward thinking philosophy here and I can't lie I'm a bit jealous - these points hit a little too close to home.

You can see in this memo, and in other efforts Google has made, that they understand one bad facet of this problem: they try very hard to diversify the income stream, and have managed to get advertising down to almost 85% or revenue, although it’s a larger percentage of profit.

But the other, more dangerous problem is the lack of adequate feedback mechanisms. This is quite difficult to fix when you are in Google’s position: the gusher of cash removes any sense of urgency and it’s very size makes it hard for any one person to see how their actions can change anything — a problem that extends all the way to the top.

This may not look like a problem to some people but it leaves them extremely vulnerable to a a structural change in the market or even a new competitor. Without a depth of resilience, once, as Buffet’s saying goes, the tide goes out they won’t have managed to put on any bathers.