Yup, PG called it http://paymentguy.blogspot.com/2009/03/hard-ass-john-z-fired-by-linden.html and M. Linden has now cleaned house. From the SL Blog https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2009/04/07/graduation-day: "Have you ever noticed how rarely the departure of an executive from a company is regarded as good news? I find that really odd, for consider the opposite: How many companies fail for refusing to evolve their leadership? In my observation, great companies evolve their management around the reality that experienced executives enjoy different stages of company development. I'm leaving Linden Lab, some of the finest people I've ever known and the most ambitious project I've ever seen. And the most passionate, intelligent, challenging, engaging Residents in any world. And that's good news; it's a graduation of sorts for the company and for me. Yet I'm sure that pundits who prefer their underinformed opinions to verifiable facts will try to find bad news.
The facts are that over the past four years, I've seen Second Life rise from an obscure project of a few dozen people to a worldwide brand with undeniable leadership in a new sector that we helped define. We've built a profitable business with diverse revenue lines, broad interest from consumer to enterprise, hundreds of employees, half a billion hours of use annually, and great new leadership. I believe that Second Life is in a better position than ever before to succeed in making virtual worlds part of everyday online life. I'm happy to see that my path ends with the company in peak condition.
As for me, it's time for a new challenge. I love helping to grow wild startups, and I plan to spend some time exploring a few of my own ideas. I may never see anything as wild as Second Life, but it's a big world out there and I'm entering it with the benefit of the incredible education that you have given me. I hope our real or virtual paths cross again someday. My deepest thanks to all of you for taking part in the journey. (Note to all business development inquiries: Sorry if I haven't had a chance to contact you personally before this posted - rest assured we are working through an orderly transition, and I'll strive to ensure that all of you are in good hands before my last day, by the end of this month.)
5 comments:
As is good corporate practice, Linden has not commented on whether any departure was voluntary. I won't break that practice just to defend myself in this venue.
However, I suggest you should come clean and admit that you have no reliable source, even anonymously, that suggests that I was fired.
Best, Ginsu
Did you have anything interesting to say? Just one self referencing comment and a long quote? No profound observations, teaching moments, or snide comments? Where is the beef?
It doesn't take rocket science to predict changes in the executive team when a new CEO comes on board. It would take more courage to predict that Wolf Blitzer will get excited sometime during the next month.
Now if you had predicted which execs would depart, or when, that would have been impressive. But the prediction you made was banal; it lacked any specificity, relevance, or interest.
http://paymentguy.blogspot.com/2008/11/linden-lab-axes-second-life-business.html and
http://paymentguy.blogspot.com/2008/11/linden-positions-second-life-for.html
Thank goodness they finally got rid of this guy. He was the worst hire the company ever made.
I once heard he promotes dissidence among company employees and creates for a very hostile work environment.
Maybe now Second Life can flourish.
Well at this point, the comments are libelous. C'mon Mr Anonymous Commenter, let's dance! http://bit.ly/7KGVPZ
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