Arrogant

To label oneself as “smart” guy seems to be arrogant. It is true. Before 2001, Microsoft always proudly announce that we only hire the top 5% smartest guys. I remember this saying is promoted everywhere, even on the campus recruiting. Later, it was changed under pressure, that “we only hire those fit the job most”. I believe this change benefit the public image of the company, but hurt the innovation, and the “good feeling” of employees a lot. That is the reason on one hand, people like Google for its super confidence, while still hate it for its arrogant attitude. When Microsoft is not arrogant, it transfers itself into a huge (successful) enterprise. When company stay arrogant, and stay passionate about what they really believe in, and don’t listen to what the mass audience says, it go to the peak and sink into the bottom of the ocean. Netscape, and SGI (both are Jim Clark company) tell us the story.