[altacc]

Whilst I agree that these hack days should be considered a learning experience this sentiment has annoyed me:

> you don't pay me enough for my good ideas. If I had an idea that could make the business $5M, I'm better off going into business for myself.

In a knowledge based role, your good ideas are exactly what the company is paying you for. If you have an idea that could make the company $5M it is very unlikely that it would do so sustainably and profitably in isolation as a new company. This is why companies exist, to pool efforts. I work for a company that has billions in turnover and I'm directly involved in decisions that affect our profit or market share and making decisions to save or create millions is a normal part of my job.

You are paid to create value for your company that far exceeds your salary. Maybe this doesn't apply to you but this attitude annoys me because I've had experience of working with colleagues who are unmotivated and coast along doing the bare minimum then complain that they are bored or never promoted. Often their colleagues end up picking up the slack. I understand that many people don't want to exert any energy in return for their paycheck but personally I spend about 6 hours a day working and prefer to put some effort in so that I enjoy it more. If you are unmotivated & unrewarded financially or intellectually then perhaps find a new job.

[barrysteve]

He sounds plenty motivated. He's willing to start his own business to chase a $5 million dollar idea.

In a knowledge based role, the company is paying you to churn out solutions to their problems because the technology stack is setup to serve the CTO's purposes.

He has to start a new company to change the setup.

Your annoyance sounds like sour grapes.

[__rito__]

Exactly what GP and you are saying.

If I am not the CTO, I am just a servant (based on the word "service"), whom you are paying to execute to do what you deem needs to be done.

And no one reaches this level of cynicism in one day. Things almost always go the non-ideal way- week after week, month after month.

And most people are in employment because they have to. Most people aren’t passionate about their current employment.

[sevagh]

Sour grapes at somebody's imaginary $5M business?

[JohnFen]

> your good ideas are exactly what the company is paying you for.

Yes, in a limited domain, this is true. However, my employer does not own my brain. Any idea I have that isn't directly related to whatever projects my employer is paying me to be part of are mine, not my employer's. Particularly if they are potentially valuable.

[gcheong]

“ You are paid to create value for your company that far exceeds your salary”

Most people have very little insight as to how much value beyond their salary they create so we can assume there is a base level of value created factored in for doing the bare minimum. In many cases that’s just keeping the business going. If the company wants innovation from the rank and file then they should be willing to pay for that.

[oumua_don17]

>> I work for a company that has billions in turnover and I'm directly involved in decisions that affect our profit or market share

and

>> I spend about 6 hours a day working

Which company is this?