I just read about Mark Zuckerburg’s (Facebook founder) comments at YCombinator [HT: dave winer]. He was telling startup entreprenuers how they should only hire young coders (under 30) for every position. His reasoning is that they are smarter and better able to leverage technology (even for non-technical positions). As a 29 year old ’smart tech guy’ I would love to agree with him. When I was younger (and mentally quicker) I thought the same way. Now, I think of Fried Green Tomatoes:
[Evelyn is cut off in a parking lot]
Evelyn Couch:Hey! I was waiting for that spot!Girl #1:
Face it, lady, we’re younger and faster!
[Evelyn rear-ends the other car six times]
Girl #1:
What are you *doing*?
Girl #2:
Are you *crazy*?
Evelyn Couch:
Face it, girls, I’m older and I have more insurance.
As we get older, we have more experience to pull from. Sure, even at age 29 I can tell that I am not a quick as I used to be. Sometimes it takes me a little longer to grasp a complex concept or to think something through. However, a big reason that it takes me a little longer now is that I have more to compare it to. I am able to avoid pitfalls that I have fallen victim to or seen others fall victim to. I am not as influenced by ‘neat’ and ‘clever’ as I used to be. Most importantly, I have been able to gain a little professional humility the hard way so I no longer think that I (and people like me) know everything.
Sure, young, smart, motivated, and unencumbered people are a huge asset to any company that can hire them. I just think it is a bad idea to discount the wisdom that can come from experience.
UPDATE: Paul Chenowith just responded via Twitter to say "Old and Strategic". I think that is spot on.
