I haven't been a spokesman for craigslist, or had any role in management since 2000.
It took a lot to recognize my limitations as a manager, and then relinquish my CEO role. A LOT of people still think I'm still in a management role, and it gets reinforced by inaccurate articles that persist on the 'net.
Here are 5 reasons I'm not in craigslist management anymore:
1. My deal is that, as a manager, I kinda suck.
2. I hired someone smarter than me to run the company, while I stick with customer service.
3. I really found my calling in customer service, and every day I see firsthand how we help people put food on the table and put a roof over that table.
4. While people often know me as the founder of craigslist, I'm really on my own public service mission these days. It's why I started this deal, craigconnects, so I can focus on philanthropy and public service. Here's a list of what I'm focusing on lately…
5. My approach just isn't the usual approach in Silicon Valley or anywhere else, but I’m a nerd, and a nerd's gotta do what a nerd's gotta do. It's not altruism, it just feels right.
Have you ever experienced a life-altering revelation? If so, where'd it take you?
(And please note: I'm really living La Vida Craigbert these days…)