My guess, which is just a guess, is that the founders got tired of Google Search and advertising and Android and mobile hardware and privacy issues and regulatory issues so much that the “don’t be evil” motto was glaring at their faces and made them uncomfortable enough to step aside and let others run the show (or run things into the ground). This must have allowed them to enjoy their riches in relative peace.
Sometimes the things you create grow way beyond your capacity to handle and become soul crushing endeavors that bear little resemblance to the early years of adventure, fulfillment and satisfaction in serving others, and the wise thing to do would be to step aside and preserve your sanity and peace of mind.
My company failed in the back-wash of the "dot-bomb" (we were not strictly a dot-com play - but close enough that we got caught in the back-wash), and while I would have preferred IPOing (not really possible in early 2000) or M&A (actually, similar reasons), I got really DEPRESSED!. Now, I was just the founder, not the CEO, but the journey from garage to supremacy (if you even make it) is a ride, maaan!
I always found the garage loneliness that you find people lamenting on HackerNews to be a lot more bearable than 10 shareholders and 250 employees and (in our case) 20 global enterprise customers. I am certainly not sure that I have it in me to attempt again. Psychologically, I mean.
Yes, that's was exactly the point made by Notch after the Microsoft acquisition of Minecraft isn't? Only that in a lower (not that low) grade... It has to be soul crushing having almost infinite money and not being able to "fix" your brain or buy time...
I entered into parenthood with similar trepidation, but my fears turned out to be unjustified. It definitely means having different experiences, but it's waaaay more fun than I thought it would be.
This sounds like a just-so story. Just as likely they are running sensitive projects inside of Google that interface with the government. I am far more likely to believe that than a billionaire simply enjoying their money for its epicurean aspects. Attaining a billion dollars requires the will-to-power. That's not something that goes away.
This means that it's tougher to be running such a company at this stage. All initial fairy tale is over. Now every day the company will be scrutinized by someone, be it shareholders, customers or even your own employees. There is now less room for error hence less room to be bold and take chances.
Wondering for almost two years after this news we haven't seen a single flying car demo from these companies. Of course Larry Page's money is a good financial support but Elon Musk has repeatedly rejected the VTOL idea, it can pummel populated areas.
He’s in the Caribbean a lot of the time and seemingly spent a lot of time there when he still had the CEO title. I didn’t see him much around google in those days (not that we move in the same circles, so this is purely anecdotal).
One of my friends lives on the same block and said a little while ago that he never sees him any more (they aren’t friends so it’s a “see the neighbors” kind of thing, also not something authoritative).
Maybe he's one of the regulars here on HN using an anonymous handle, taking part in these conversations without anyone judging him or his actions.
Well-known people have used pseudonyms for ages to preserve their privacy (for instance, when staying in hotels) or sometimes to manipulate public opinion -- writing letters to the editor under various names and personalities was a favorite tactic of Ben Franklin, even to the newspapers he owned!
Retired, I presume. Sometimes people just want to spend time with their kids and not have to work all the time. And I'm sure he talks to Sundar Pichai all the time, Alphabet/Google was his baby afterall.
Isn't that the whole point of branching off with Alphabet? Seems like a failed experiment if it didn't create a model for new startups to exist under GOOG.
May I ask? In English: "I presume" means that "I have no data and am speculating". I that correct?
If that is correct, why would you give an answer?
My query should not imply any criticism - just that I don't understand. Could you explain to an (Sincerely, From: obvious problematic person, who does want to learn)
If we restricted discussion forums to only people who had any idea what they were talking about, you could fit all of internet discourse onto a floppy disk.
My feeling is that the paralyzed vocal cords are more an effect of the root cause.
I think Larry did not like anymore most of what he had to do in his role and created so much stress to him that his body ended up helping him to get out of that role.
From what I heard on some videos Larry and Sergey were still actively involved in the creation of new things in Google X etc. They are engineers and they love to build and create new ambitious things. But if you are high in the management of a big public company that is not your role anymore.
I think they hoped the creation of Alphabet would have given them the opportunity to go back to work on new products with an impact for good in the world instead of having to keep focussing on the dull and stressful management of Google itself.
But in the end they probably realized that it was not the case and they left.
I know they do angel investing. I guess that with their experience and money, it is more effective to help younger enterpronurs to make the world a better place.
Rumor has it Larry Page has already uploaded himself to the cloud, leaving behind his abandoned, lifeless husk inside a closet in a Google data center somewhere.
Readit News
Sometimes the things you create grow way beyond your capacity to handle and become soul crushing endeavors that bear little resemblance to the early years of adventure, fulfillment and satisfaction in serving others, and the wise thing to do would be to step aside and preserve your sanity and peace of mind.
My company failed in the back-wash of the "dot-bomb" (we were not strictly a dot-com play - but close enough that we got caught in the back-wash), and while I would have preferred IPOing (not really possible in early 2000) or M&A (actually, similar reasons), I got really DEPRESSED!. Now, I was just the founder, not the CEO, but the journey from garage to supremacy (if you even make it) is a ride, maaan!
I always found the garage loneliness that you find people lamenting on HackerNews to be a lot more bearable than 10 shareholders and 250 employees and (in our case) 20 global enterprise customers. I am certainly not sure that I have it in me to attempt again. Psychologically, I mean.
Sort of the opposite story.
How that relates to Page (& Brin) ... I don't know.
Considering the relative secrecy that he is building these companies in, I'd guess he has other companies going as well.
One of my friends lives on the same block and said a little while ago that he never sees him any more (they aren’t friends so it’s a “see the neighbors” kind of thing, also not something authoritative).
Well-known people have used pseudonyms for ages to preserve their privacy (for instance, when staying in hotels) or sometimes to manipulate public opinion -- writing letters to the editor under various names and personalities was a favorite tactic of Ben Franklin, even to the newspapers he owned!
More recently, Mitt Romney's alt Twitter account "Pierre Delecto" was uncovered after he gave away too many clues: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/10/mitt-romney-has-...
If that is correct, why would you give an answer?
My query should not imply any criticism - just that I don't understand. Could you explain to an (Sincerely, From: obvious problematic person, who does want to learn)
He is still Alphabet board member and employee. His interest has always been futurism and moon-shot projects.
I think Larry did not like anymore most of what he had to do in his role and created so much stress to him that his body ended up helping him to get out of that role.
From what I heard on some videos Larry and Sergey were still actively involved in the creation of new things in Google X etc. They are engineers and they love to build and create new ambitious things. But if you are high in the management of a big public company that is not your role anymore.
I think they hoped the creation of Alphabet would have given them the opportunity to go back to work on new products with an impact for good in the world instead of having to keep focussing on the dull and stressful management of Google itself.
But in the end they probably realized that it was not the case and they left.
I know they do angel investing. I guess that with their experience and money, it is more effective to help younger enterpronurs to make the world a better place.