This morning I hosted a presentation by the MIT Deshpande Center about their program to a group of Colorado VCs. I'm really excited about what the Deshpande Center is up to and will blog about that separately. Steve Halstedt from Centennial Ventures - a long time VC and one of the guys I've learned a lot from (we were both on the Raindance board together) - sat next to me and wrote the following down in the middle of the meeting and handed it to me.
Why scientists and engineers, who know so much, make so little compared to VCs (or investment bankers, or trial lawyers) who know so little.
Time is Money
Knowledge is Power
Power = Work / Time (from high school physics)
If you substitute Knowledge for Power and Money for Time
Knowledge = Work / Money
Using a little basic algebra (about the amount most VCs remember) and arranging terms, you get
Money = Work / Knowledge
For a given amount of Work as Knowledge apporaches zero, Money becomes infinite.
This explains the difference in market value between scientists/engineers and VCs.
Posted in: Venture CapitalCOMMENTS (3)
This makes the email rounds every few years. I first saw it some ten years ago but I suspect it is older then that. Each group initiating it tends to adapt it to suit their agenda. Perhaps this version indicates a focus on money over originality?
Yes amusing. But consider this. Time is not money. They are different types.
In time you can make money, or you can lose money, but knowledge is always power.
Knowledge is eternal, money is not. Smart people invest money in knowledge not money just for the sake of making more money!
In the corporate realm, I think the value equation needs some corrective action. It is certainly revealing to me, to witness insulting, self-centered, six figure, micromanagers crush all hope for ingenuity and intelligent direction in a major corporation.
How about a cooperative business model or allowing workers to elect our CEO's every four years? Where is the incentive for the working guy?
As an engineer, I know I could be making equal or better money with far less 'work'. I walked into this business for the challenge and reward of helping others; certainly not to make my idiot boss look good!
I have to say, I wouldn't recommend science or engineering to a young person right now. If knowledge is power, our power is in danger of going over seas!
How about that, you can outsource US engineers from overseas! Coming soon to a theater near you! Really, IMHO, we employees should be outsourcing our management. We deserve better than this.
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