[kjs3]

per se: by or in itself or themselves; intrinsically.

I understand that some (most) of these guys are, in fact, doing this because it's the right thing to do and they are, in fact, that invested. I merely wanted to point out, counter to the tone and implication of the article, that's not the only reason to do this and they were still handsomely rewarded for the risk they took.

Conversely, I want to point out to anyone who thinks not doing the right thing wrt your team so you can pocket a few extra percentage points can have a negative consequence.

[jacquesm]

Sure they're smart businessmen (and women), they built awesome companies and successfully negotiated substantial exits. If they weren't smart then neither of those would have happened in the first place! But in the article there are some very good examples of situations where most C level teams and founders would have happily made off with the loot without sharing any of it with their co-workers, as one CEO in the article put it 'the ones they went to war with'. And there would be nothing or nobody to stop that from happening, and because this is 'normal' nobody would have likely even said anything about it beyond some grumbling at the watercooler and a maybe slightly higher turnover directly post acquisition.

So I read their generosity as the first driver to do this, and that there maybe is another reason is possible but I've yet to see a repeat successful team which would allow the conclusion to be that the second reason is also a motivator.

They're doing good, and good by their people, and that's about it. No need to search for an ulterior motive.

And there are very few if any negative consequences to not doing 'the right thing' with respect to your team, because that - unfortunately - is business as usual. These are the exceptions, definitely not the rule. I hope it becomes more common though.