How NOT to Lead

CHAPTER 15Proof Is in the Pudding

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.

—Anne Lamott

So far in this book, I've talked mostly about the wrong things to do. In this space, I’ve provided as much insight as I can from my experiences and from analyzing the history of technology leaders to help you understand where things go wrong. As I stated at the beginning of the book, there is immense value in that. But I also think it's never good to dwell only on the negative side of any equation. Therefore, I want to give you examples of companies doing things the right way but differently from the methods of typical technology founders.

Ricardo Villadiego is different, and he has a different background from any technology CEO or founder I have ever met. I guarantee that if you put him in a room with 500 other people and ask someone to pick out a successful cybersecurity and technology entrepreneur, he would not be one of the first chosen. Honestly, that's something for Ricardo to take pride in, if you ask me. Ricardo goes by RV, so that's what I'll call him.

RV is an interesting guy. When he greets you, he always has a genuine big smile. But something behind his eyes lets you know he's always thinking and evaluating everyone and everything he comes across. RV is direct with his questions. When he wants to know something, he asks. RV doesn't, at least in my experience, ...