Fred Wilson, a prominent figure in the venture capital/investment community was getting interviewed at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in front of a group of developers and entrepreneurs. As they were talking, the idea of applications for platforms (companies like Facebook, Google, Twitter) came up and Fred told a short story about his experiences with platforms:
Fred – My friend Seth Goldstein had a company called Social Media that built one of the first ad networks on Facebook, and one day Facebook decided they didn’t really want Social Media to exist, and they didn’t.
Interviewer: What message does that send out to other developers and start ups that they build on the platform? They build business on the platform and then they get the rug pulled out from under them”
Fred: I have a saying, Don’t be a Google Bitch, don’t be a Facebook Bitch, and Don’t be a Twitter Bitch. Be your own Bitch.
Besides providing a great little soundbite for tech blogs everywhere and momentarily stunning his interviewer, I think there’s a lot to learn from Fred’s point [you can watch the full interview here – good stuff at the 23 minute mark].
Whether you’re a developer or entrepreneur or not, I think it’s important to pay attention to this because the one thing I learned about business and life is that lessons can come from anywhere and truth always has applications beyond the field in which you initially encounter it. For instance, I can’t write a lick of code, but Fred’s statement is still incredibly relevant to me because it really comes down to five simple words.
Do what you really want to do.
In everything you do, you have a choice. Every time you delegate that freedom of choice to someone else, you’re voluntarily becoming dependent on them. In Fred’s words, you become someone’s bitch (for lack of a better term).
Anytime you tie yourself into an ecosystem, you become dependent on that ecosystem. If you’re a developer creating something for Facebook, you get the chance to use their platform, but you have to play by their rules and anytime they don’t like you, they can snap their fingers and you’re gone. In this context, it’d be foolish or reckless to place all your bets on one system that can turn it’s back on you at any time. Instead it’s much wiser to develop for whatever platform you want, be adaptable and make yourself the master of your own destiny instead of asking someone else to do it for you.
Most people aren’t developers, but they still act this way. But, instead of creating for Facebook, they’re creating for their job. They place all their bets on one system that anytime you have a bad performance review or the economics stop making sense, can turn it’s back on you at any time. If this were any other system, it would seem foolish, but somehow this behavior has become “normal.” Year after year, college graduates file out of classrooms and into jobs that will put them on a safe & secure career path for the next 30-40 years. Unfortunately, It doesn’t work like that anymore. The average American can have up to 7 new careers in their lifetime. Old-school job security doesn’t exist anymore, only job security 2.0 – a combination of your network, independent projects and your “real” job.
I’m not against working for others at all. I’ve done it for the past 2 years and I’ll be doing it in the future. If your relationship with your work is symbiotic (good for both sides) and you want to stay in it, then by all means, you should stay in it. But, if it’s not a mutual beneficial relationship that’s getting you closer to your goals, don’t do it. Get yourself out of it. It’s that simple. Remember, just because it’s a good job, doesn’t mean it’s a good job for you.
You are always the boss of your own life. Never forget that.
In anything you do, there’s always a bail out clause. If you don’t like something, you can change it.
If you’re a developer, you can develop for Google, Facebook or Twitter or whatever the new hot startup is. Or you can decide to develop for yourself, work on projects you think are interesting and develop for whatever ecosystems you want, whenever you feel like it.
If you’re a not a developer, you can just work for company X or company Y and let them determine the arc of your life’s story or you can decide to work for yourself, find companies doing interesting work and decide that any job you ever take, is a conscious effort to get closer to your goals.
Working for yourself is different doesn’t mean you have to have your own business. It just means you take full responsibility for all your job choices and that you’re doing things because you truly want to do them, not because you’ve bought into someone else’s dream fro your life.
So many people live their life building something for someone else. There’s nothing wrong with that. Not everyone is an entrepreneur. Not everyone can build their own thing. Not everybody is meant to go create something for nothing. But for God’s sake, don’t build something for someone else if it’s not something you truly want to be doing.
Always be living your life the way you want to.
If that involves building something on your own from scratch, do that. If it involves building something for someone else, that’s cool too, but most importantly – know why you’re doing it. Have a rock solid reason and be okay with the tradeoff you’re making.
Your life is your own. Be your own bitch.
An interesting point that really resonates with me both as a mobile application developer and traveler. I’ve learned that sometimes you have to accept a certain amount of being a bitch to others, though.
About a year ago I realized that at least 85% of my income was coming from the Apple AppStore. Since then I’ve diversified my company’s portfolio with Blackberry & Android apps as well as mobile advertising. I also set up more revenue sharing agreements with future clients to spread out my monthly residual income sources even further. Now I am confident that one or even two of my income sources could drop away and it would not be the end of the world, which allows me to be more comfortable in my travels.
I’ve applied similar tactics to travel. The Schengen visa is a pain when it only lasts for 3 months, but I’ve diversified interests and opportunities so I am not super concerned about being in any one country.
Great practical examples Zane. I think that yes, sometimes you need to play by other people’s rules, but you when you do that, you should be okay with the tradeoffs you’re making. If you’re not, you don’t have to accept that and choose an alternative route instead. Maybe it involves making less money or working long hours, but you always, always, always have a choice. Thanks for the real-life experiences Zane. I always love to hear how readers apply things to their lives.
Hey Joel,
Great post. This reminded me of what you said to me personally a couple days back. “Do what you really want to do.”
Just also wanted to add that it annoys the heck out of me when people think their own way is the only right way and they try to make you their bitch.
So it’s good reinforcement to have full responsibility of your own life.
Always take full responsibility for your life. The day you start to delegate that responsibility is the day you start down the road to apathy.
Hey Joel
Excellent reminder and encouragement! I really resonate with your statement about working for yourself doesn’t mean owning a business. I say whatever gives you the most most of independence, freedom, and joy is the right path for you. I’m leaving the education field after this school year because those three factors didn’t line up. I’m miserable at that “secure job” (tenure is a beautiful thing for scared people). I don’t know what I’m doing after June 28th, but I’m excited for what’s next. Thanks for the boost!
Congrats on making the jump! As long as you’re happy with what you’re doing, you can work for yourself all you want and still have someone else as a “boss.” Too many people think independence has to mean entrepreneurship, when it really just requires them to man up a bit.
Gotta follow the passion and love of whatever it is you wanna do… Being your own Bitch, to me, is the only way to go!
Solid article Joel…
Thanks Patrick.
Easier said that done, but it needs to be said because it needs to be heard. They myths of job security and employee commitment are gone. BTW, I appreciate it very much that you cite your sources. 🙂
I try to give credit where credit is due :). And yes, like most things, it’s easier said than done, but that’s also why there’s such a premium for do-ers out there!
thanks! great reminders! good luck recovering from your last fantastic feat. 🙂
Thanks Marina!
Thanks, Joel. I really enjoyed reading this post. Hit a little close to home for me.
That means I’m doing my job :).
The world would be a better place, if a lot more people followed their gut, and made a consious effort to focus and do the things they truly had a passion for. Nice points here!
Thanks Baker 🙂
I always find it hilarious when people ask:
“how can i use these tools for XYZ”
They’ve already limited themselves tremendously and are missing the point. No matter what you’re doing in life, you have to define your goals, and then start looking around at whatever tools will suit you best. There are no limits!
Great work man!
Thanks Armi!
It is so much easier to conform or create something else. Doing for you, making the time to create your own path, is impossible. Until you do it. Like Rick Ross said in his classic (and my own morning anthem), “Everyday I’m Hustlin'”, every day we do a little something, we do a string of mini-goals toward that seemingly impossible goal. And booyah, world domination. By being our own bitch. Awesomesauce!
Every day I’m hustlin’, hustlin’, hustlin’ 🙂
This is what exactly what I needed. By far my fave post from you Joel.
I’m 22, impersonating as a college student, and trying to figure out what interesting projects to work on to have an impossible life.
I experienced my first layoff from a start-up about 2.5 weeks ago. I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world. I got a taste of what “adults” feel when they suddenly become unemployed. Bummer.
In that moment I realized that I never wanted any one individual, organization, or institution to be responsible for my well-being.
Taking the baby steps to be my own bitch and own my shit.
P.S. I have 15 blog drafts sitting and staring at me. Is their a specific action/habit you do to give yourself the confidence to: 1)overcome Resistance and press publish 2)Attack the blank screen with words every day?
If you’re scared of publishing, make up a schedule and stick to it. The days or number of posts don’t really matter, but it’s all about creating the habit and actively learning to overcome the resistance by doing something very small, every day to get to your goals.
Just realized I didn’t comment on this. I really liked the post, and the catch phrase. An Ebook title?
JSJ
Might just have to do that :).
Hi,
This time it took a lot of time to read your post, because I did look and read most of the links you put it in. It did make me think. Great stuff! Thanks.
Anyway, we really need to find our self and find out who we really are and what makes us satisfied- happiness is just a moment.
You don’t need to have much money to be successful. It is about you and you’re inner. And no matter what other say or think, it’s all the time only and only about you.
And when you are satisfied with yourself, you give better work and better reaction to the all world around you. That’s what we all need, isn’t?
Jelena
And when you are satisfied with yourself, you give better work and better reaction to the all world around you. – This is a pretty awesome insight Jelena. Thanks for this!
You should definitely read a book called “Beyond Civilization” by Daniel Quinn. He asks the awesome question, are you merely hauling bricks up somebody else’s pyramid?
I might have to check that out. Thanks Danny
I clicked this post solely because of the title, Joel. Love Fred’s story, great analogy for being our own bitch in life. Because bitches have more fun, huzzah!
You would click because of the title :). Hahahaha.