Make a million, lose a million, who cares?

Thu, 11 Apr 2002 19:30:00 +0000

The thing that amazes me isn't that I lost a million dollars, but that I had it to begin with. My career path looked more likely to lead to a night manager's job at Border's than to financial success. I racked up a solid C average as an English major, then temped at law firms, proofread, taught English in Prague and reported for a small newswire service.

Then, one day, at a wedding, I met a technical writer who worked at a telecommunications equipment start-up and needed an assistant. My girlfriend was Catholic, my girlfriend was pregnant, and I was making $26,000 a year. I said yes.

From the beginning, the little technology start-up didn't feel like any other job. At my East Coast jobs, especially the law firms where I temped, a strict hierarchy was visible. The partners had big offices with a secretary stationed in front, the associates had little offices with no secretary, and the paralegals had cubes. Everyone wore suits or dresses.

At my new job, egalitarianism ruled. On my first day, a tall friendly guy in jeans and a T-shirt came by. He introduced himself by his first name and asked me if I needed anything. My computer seemed to be working fine, and I had already gotten into my e-mail, so I thanked him and said no, thinking this was an awfully friendly I.T. guy. It took me a few days to realize that he was my new CEO.

Salon.com > Jeff Beard

Make a million, lose a million, who cares?