Page 29 - The New Articulate Executive_ Look, Act and Sound Like a Leader

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ALPHA DOGS AND

WORKER BEES

rom the time he was seven, Alex had a dream. He wanted to
Frun his own video game company—and before he was twenty,
he did. After only one year in college, Alex dropped out, partnered
with a classmate, got seed money from family and friends, and cre-
ated a video game company that created a niche market. For Alex,
work was fun, and fun was work. At twenty-four, after years of
eighteen-hour workdays and no time off, he sold the company for
$168 million. Thanks to his tireless vision and passion, Alex had no
trouble enlisting support and a following. Two years later, even in
the face of a daunting recession, he was already building a second
successful venture, this time creating a new platform for social
media.
Sam worked for Alex. Age thirty-eight and unmarried, he had
an M.B.A. and Ph.D. in environmental sciences. Sam was the assis-
tant controller. He enjoyed his work but liked to spend all his down-
time backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, and skiing. For Sam,
work paid the bills and made possible the things he really cared
about. He had no desire to run anything or lead anyone. His priori-
ties were clear, and he was happy. When Alex sold the company,
Sam moved on to another company and a similar job. He’s still
happy.

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