Jason Calacanis and the Contradiction of What Defines Great

There are a lot of good unemployed writers. Universities are filled with English and liberal arts majors that learn how to conduct good research, write coherent essays, and think logically. There is no shortage of people who can do a "superstar" job of writing that will meet Mahalo's needs. The throngs of unemployed English and liberal arts majors who could excel at this job position means that Calacanis can spend less. Supply outweighs demand.

Everyone knows a friend or cousin who is that articulate but unemployed English major. Very few make it to writing for the New York Times or other "prestigious" institutions that pay good wages.

In this environment, Calacanis and other entrepreneurs are looking for people who can produce more value than what they get paid. If you get $12 of value for $12 of pay, you're only breaking even. Calacanis needs $100 of value for $12 of pay.

Whether or not his pricing is correct will be measured by his success at hiring a great writer for $10-12 per hour. If he can't, he'll have to up the ante. I suspect that he will find a great writer for low pay easily.

Allan´s last blog post..When CEOs Become the Soul of a Company

Hi Allan,

In theory, I agree with your view on available writers - unfortunately. And I only say unfortunately from the point of view as someone who sees writers continuously screwed over by companies and buyers of freelance work.

Yet writers don't need to become a New York Times journo or similar to enjoy a good wage - there are plenty of well-paying positions available. And with the very nature of freelance writing and the ease of connecting online, writers don't need to be hindered by sticking to a local audience.

My main concern in this situation is that Calacanis preaches one thing and then goes out and does the opposite. Even taking into account the current economic climate, the job posting is a re-post of one from earlier this year when the markets were more stable. Therefore, while you will always get writers willing to do the work for that kind of pay, a posting like that would normally receive applications from average (or even good) writers.

As Calacanis himself states in his missive, though, good doesn't cut it - so would he fire these writers before they've even had a chance to shine?

Thanks for reading and commenting, appreciate it.

There are a lot of good unemployed writers. Universities are filled with English and liberal arts majors that learn how to conduct good research, write coherent essays, and think logically. There is no shortage of people who can do a "superstar" job of writing that will meet Mahalo's needs. The throngs of unemployed English and liberal arts majors who could excel at this job position means that Calacanis can spend less. Supply outweighs demand.

Everyone knows a friend or cousin who is that articulate but unemployed English major. Very few make it to writing for the New York Times or other "prestigious" institutions that pay good wages.

In this environment, Calacanis and other entrepreneurs are looking for people who can produce more value than what they get paid. If you get $12 of value for $12 of pay, you're only breaking even. Calacanis needs $100 of value for $12 of pay.

Whether or not his pricing is correct will be measured by his success at hiring a great writer for $10-12 per hour. If he can't, he'll have to up the ante. I suspect that he will find a great writer for low pay easily.

Allanu00c2u00b4s last blog post..When CEOs Become the Soul of a Company

@ George. I agree - it's all well and good talking the talk, but when your walk strays from the path you tell everyone else to walk? Seems very contradictory to me and kind of dilutes the worth of the original message.

Since when are gurus expected to make sense when they talk?

You never follow what a person like this says, you follow what he does. Great find with the Craiglist ad.

Regards, George

George Cozmau00c2u00b4s last blog post..More Link Love, an Upcoming Contest, Some Twitter Musings and Why Entrecard Sucks

Since when are gurus expected to make sense when they talk?

You never follow what a person like this says, you follow what he does. Great find with the Craiglist ad.

Regards, George

George Cozmau00c2u00b4s last blog post..More Link Love, an Upcoming Contest, Some Twitter Musings and Why Entrecard Sucks
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If indeed the right thing to do is fire anyone thatu00e2u0080u0099s doing a good job at a company (something Iu00e2u0080u0099m against - I tend to find the good workers are the ones that give the superstars the solid platform from which to work), then the economic crisis must be really hitting home. I canu00e2u0080u0099t think of how else Mahalo will attract superstars with an hourly pay rate that may be able to buy a movie ticket.
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