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It goes the other way too. The older I get, the less inclined I am to work for any company. I just no longer believe in really any corporate mission. I'm not inclined to work hard for anyone except me. Most companies seem to be doing things that are either uninteresting or trivial or silly.

I was super ambitious and worked super hard for other people when I was younger and now why the heck should I do that for some other company?

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Funny, the older I get, and the more businesses I become involved with - the more I realize that even the silliest, most trivial problem on the outside takes relentless execution and talent to make successful.

With age, came the wisdom that I am best when supported by a team of people who take up the fight alongside me. The challenge then, becomes to inspire, reward and treat my collaborators with the respect and dignity that they deserve.

When I was younger, I felt very beholden to my bosses. I felt that they could ruin my life at their whim, by firing me, or writing a terrible recommendation for grad school.

Fast forward a few years and I realize that I can "work for myself" even within a larger organization. Even within an org, the reason I am there can be for my own interests and learning. If they become misaligned, I'll leave.

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