June 17th, 2020
When Lambda School had their little fiasco, part of me believed this happened because people didn't like the founder on a personal level.
Why? Because his Twitter timeline made his coding bootcamp seem like the second coming of Christ. This definitely got under some people's skin.
I have a hunch that the people who wrote those Lambda School hit-pieces really just had a bone to pick with the founder.
Back when this was going down, I was chatting with some other founders about this and wanted to prove my point (that he had it coming) - but they had a better point, which was something along the lines of:
Why? Because his Twitter timeline made his coding bootcamp seem like the second coming of Christ. This definitely got under some people's skin.
I have a hunch that the people who wrote those Lambda School hit-pieces really just had a bone to pick with the founder.
Back when this was going down, I was chatting with some other founders about this and wanted to prove my point (that he had it coming) - but they had a better point, which was something along the lines of:
"To change an industry you kind of have to be 'that guy'. As founders we know what it's like - how hard it is to run a company, and command an ambitious vision like this. To criticize him for this makes us just as bad as a gossip rag or a Twitter troll."
This hit me like a ton of bricks.
I was contributing to cancel culture, just because I didn't like the way this dude went about his business.
Why should I give a fuck about some dude I don't know? Letting them live rent-free in my head.. He has no idea who I am.
It's none of my business, and it's not worth my time to even think about.
Most of us have people we don't like - that person who bothers you at work, that politician who pisses you off, etc.
If you don't like someone - that means that you probably actually care about them, or you care about what they think of you.
If you didn't care about them, then you would be indifferent, and their actions and words wouldn't even cross your mind or trigger you.
So, likely, I actually care about Austen. He's building a great company. Maybe it's some jealousy on my end.
I think a lot of people were jealous of his success and how great of a marketer he is, which is actually what caused that whole fiasco.
But to build a great company - one that changes the world - there will be controversies and scandals.
To be a founder of a company that changes the world, you really have to be 'that guy'.