Paul Graham seems to be an incredibly
smart guy.
Here’s an article
that covers a wide gamut of issues many of which I’ve pondered and I have to
say I admire the way in which he has laid out this article and the coherent stream
of consciousness it presents.
Essentially, it’s hard to work in offices, which I whole
heartedly agree as I get the lion’s share of my work done at night after my
wife has gone to bed and the house is quiet.
He also writes about the fact that people will work hardest for
themselves and more importantly their idea and ideals.
The idea that most intrigued me was the employer-employee
paternal relationship and its implication of justice. In other words an employer is obligated to
take care of the employee and this makes the employee behave like a teenager, tugging
at the reins of control imposed on him/her and resenting the cozy embrace of
the parent’s house and rules. His
example of postal employees is dead on.
Well worth the read but set aside 15 minutes of quiet time
(if your office allows for such a thing) and read it.