James O’Keefe is out at Project Veritas. Much to my disappointment, people “connected” the ousting to the Pfizer release. Pfizer, the theory goes, had China launch a spy balloon as a distraction from the Project Veritas release, and then the PV Board ousted O’Keefe to protect Pfizer. This is nuts, and shows the lack of sophistication too many people who have “opinions” on politics have.
Spot on. This happens in startups all the time. Easy to predict what happens next - Veritas collapses, James starts something new and recruits the best talent from Veritas. He needs to learn this harsh lesson about suits and not repeat the same mistake.
Nail on the head! I hope O'Keefe doesn't have a non-compete or NDA. The #2 Suits will drive the co. into the ground, eventually, so there will be opportunity for him, or someone else. Don't look for any more Pfizer type exposés', though, from Veritas. I don't think Pfizer controls them but it'll become like Drudge and just report on certain things that don't embarrass the ruling gangster class.
They have lost my paltry monthly donation. We'll see what happens moving forward. I'll toss $$ their way if things look promising. I wish I was more optimistic.
Suits have ruined life as a doctor. Resident in a surgical sub specialty with highest margins per case and highest case volume in hospital. Suits are changing policies making our life’s worse everyday while we are too busy to fight, because we are using our talent to help patients
Talent versus suits--that explains a lot of things. Especially the two kinds of suit. Suit 1 sounds like the classic capitalist--I'll get out of your way so you can help me make money for both of us--a win-win situation and Suit 2, well, I don't think anyone other than fellow Suit 2's has anything good to say about that type.
I live in a mobile home park and the big thing that is happening right now is that these parks are being taken over by Suit 2 types (same is happening with apartment complexes) who are just in it to milk the residents dry. They don't care about their tenants' well-being, only how much can they get out of them. There are websites such as Mobile Home University that explicitly tell would-be investors how they can make a killing investing in mobile home parks with very little down. They also instruct would-be investors on how to construct a firewall between themselves and their tenants so as not to have any contact with them. Tenants who complain are painted as being brainwashed by liberal media and activist groups who are out to deprive these investors from making a profit. After all they are not running a charity! And all this is being done--legally--with Fannie May funding. They can get away with it because the only lifestyle that matters is owning your own home. If you are unable to do so, well it sucks to be you. And if you are so unfortunate or unwise as to live in a mobile home park, well, then you deserve what you get, because everyone knows that people who live in such places are trailer trash and are the lowest of the low.
This article is a good general guide but what actually happened at Project Veritas? Link? None of the public narratives seem believable. Firing OKeefe because they thought better talent could replace him? Not a credible theory.
That aphorism comes to mind: Things start out as a cause, they evolve into a business, and end up as a racket. It's a problem.
As a "talent" player, I've depended on suits to get my work to market, and I've been grateful to the ones who have respected my turf just as I respected theirs. Yes, we do need each other, or at least I did. But the ego, which is an essential component in the building of such empires, is the same factor that leads to their downfall. How to keep that ego healthy but in check? This is the human conundrum, and good luck addressing it.
You are very incisive in both your observations as well as your writing. But I find that positing things solely as a dichotomy when none is being enforced on you, is limiting. I have an extensive background in several areas, on more than two of the sides of the business equation. There are many sides, as has been my experience.
Some advisors can operation on a more than an “all or nothing at all” basis. Life can have nuance. So can business. It’s a continuum not a see-saw. I’ve learned this because I have spent almost an equal amount of time on the other end of the equation, as the creator, as the founder, as the one with the most heart towards the goal and most skin in the game.
Spot on. This happens in startups all the time. Easy to predict what happens next - Veritas collapses, James starts something new and recruits the best talent from Veritas. He needs to learn this harsh lesson about suits and not repeat the same mistake.
Reminds me of a Gavin McInnes saying “you need a hippy, (creative guy) bullshitter, (sales) and a nerd (IT)
At Vice that was him, Shane Smith, and Saroosh Alvi.
Veritas will go the way of Vice
Great read but why did the board want O’Keefe gone in the first place? Does the board believe they can make more money without O’Keefe?
Nail on the head! I hope O'Keefe doesn't have a non-compete or NDA. The #2 Suits will drive the co. into the ground, eventually, so there will be opportunity for him, or someone else. Don't look for any more Pfizer type exposés', though, from Veritas. I don't think Pfizer controls them but it'll become like Drudge and just report on certain things that don't embarrass the ruling gangster class.
Danny Huckabee
They have lost my paltry monthly donation. We'll see what happens moving forward. I'll toss $$ their way if things look promising. I wish I was more optimistic.
Suits have ruined life as a doctor. Resident in a surgical sub specialty with highest margins per case and highest case volume in hospital. Suits are changing policies making our life’s worse everyday while we are too busy to fight, because we are using our talent to help patients
Great as always. Thanks Cerno.
Talent versus suits--that explains a lot of things. Especially the two kinds of suit. Suit 1 sounds like the classic capitalist--I'll get out of your way so you can help me make money for both of us--a win-win situation and Suit 2, well, I don't think anyone other than fellow Suit 2's has anything good to say about that type.
I live in a mobile home park and the big thing that is happening right now is that these parks are being taken over by Suit 2 types (same is happening with apartment complexes) who are just in it to milk the residents dry. They don't care about their tenants' well-being, only how much can they get out of them. There are websites such as Mobile Home University that explicitly tell would-be investors how they can make a killing investing in mobile home parks with very little down. They also instruct would-be investors on how to construct a firewall between themselves and their tenants so as not to have any contact with them. Tenants who complain are painted as being brainwashed by liberal media and activist groups who are out to deprive these investors from making a profit. After all they are not running a charity! And all this is being done--legally--with Fannie May funding. They can get away with it because the only lifestyle that matters is owning your own home. If you are unable to do so, well it sucks to be you. And if you are so unfortunate or unwise as to live in a mobile home park, well, then you deserve what you get, because everyone knows that people who live in such places are trailer trash and are the lowest of the low.
This article is a good general guide but what actually happened at Project Veritas? Link? None of the public narratives seem believable. Firing OKeefe because they thought better talent could replace him? Not a credible theory.
That aphorism comes to mind: Things start out as a cause, they evolve into a business, and end up as a racket. It's a problem.
As a "talent" player, I've depended on suits to get my work to market, and I've been grateful to the ones who have respected my turf just as I respected theirs. Yes, we do need each other, or at least I did. But the ego, which is an essential component in the building of such empires, is the same factor that leads to their downfall. How to keep that ego healthy but in check? This is the human conundrum, and good luck addressing it.
Once again, spot on.
You are very incisive in both your observations as well as your writing. But I find that positing things solely as a dichotomy when none is being enforced on you, is limiting. I have an extensive background in several areas, on more than two of the sides of the business equation. There are many sides, as has been my experience.
Some advisors can operation on a more than an “all or nothing at all” basis. Life can have nuance. So can business. It’s a continuum not a see-saw. I’ve learned this because I have spent almost an equal amount of time on the other end of the equation, as the creator, as the founder, as the one with the most heart towards the goal and most skin in the game.
Yes!!!
https://open.substack.com/pub/sinatana/p/doctors-may-i-ask-you-a-question?utm_source=direct&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I love exploring identity
Insightful, realistic and well-written article.
Advice passed on from a long-time venture capitalist: “I never fire my founders too soon.”
Good help is hard to find. I had a feeling. Great read.