Scoble – one of my favorite bloggers – visited the GooglePlex recently and had this to report:
Every interaction I had with Googlers this time was different than the last time I was on campus. They seemed more humble. More comfortable. More inquisitive. And, when I gave them chances to say “you’re an idiot” they didn’t take it (and I gave them many opportunities). This is a different Google than I was used to.
Scoble gave no real reason why this change of attitude/environment occured, but the implication was that Google is facing obstacles, and they have accepted this.
My take away?
Scoble is no longer at Microsoft. While still identified with the company, he is no longer working at Microsoft.
Huge difference. So of course the employees of a fierce competitor will now appear to behave differently – they are not meeting with the enemy. (And I don’t mean that in a negative way; just as a business reality).
Or I could be missing something/everything….