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by jpk 5510 days ago
This is an attitude I've never agreed with. Say you're an investor. Would you rather this CEO put on an I-know-what-I'm-doing face, and imply that he's got this all under control? Or would you rather he be upfront about his lack of experience but determination to get it right by learning and surrounding himself with smart people that can help him? Maybe he fails, maybe he doesn't. At least you know what you're getting into.

Dishonesty is dishonesty no matter how you cut it.
2 comments
dasil003 5510 days ago
> Would you rather this CEO put on an I-know-what-I'm-doing face, and imply that he's got this all under control?

Up front in my office or up front in a public blog? I certainly wouldn't want him scaring off potential deals with over-the-top candor.

> Dishonesty is dishonesty no matter how you cut it.

This is a ridiculous assertion. If you walk around saying every true thing that comes into your mind at best you'll be treated like you have Tourette's, and at worst you'll be a complete pariah. Honesty and integrity tend to fall in the "know it when you see it" camp for most people, but the criteria are far from black and white.

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mey 5510 days ago
You lie for PR. This blog post seems to be great PR, going for an honest approach to the realities and approaches of heading up a company. What potential deals is he scaring off? Instead a group of intelligent individuals are now exposed to not only him, his integrity, and his product. I had never heard of svpply before today.

I call that a PR win.

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jpk 5507 days ago
You're reading a comment I didn't write. I was replying to "Withholding the truth isn't lying." Telling the truth in the privacy of your office isn't withholding the truth. How public you should be about this sort of thing is debatable (which is what most of the discussion here was), but I wasn't speaking to that. F_J_H articulated my point a little more clearly.
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philwelch 5510 days ago
> If you walk around saying every true thing that comes into your mind at best you'll be treated like you have Tourette's, and at worst you'll be a complete pariah.

Actually, this guy seems to have done pretty well that way: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Blanton

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jimbobimbo 5510 days ago
If I'd be investor, I'd prefer my CEO tell the truth in my face, not in the blog post for the rest of the world to see.
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mey 5510 days ago
Are you an investor?
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