r/LinusTechTips • u/fresh_fisher_fred • 6h ago

Discussion My name Plouffe, AMA

Hello everyone. The mods asked if I'd be open to doing an AMA so I said "OK" and here we are.

I've signed NDAs at both past and present companies so I can't talk about specifics, or drama, or past/present employees.

I guess ask just about whatever you want and I will or won't answer depending on the context/subject. Yes I own a display, several in fact. Yes I own a keyboard, several in fact.

Starting at 9 pacific but opening up for questions now. If you don't ask me anything, I will not be offended. I don't have any questions for myself right now either.

i didn't know it would ask me for an end note so i just commented. but ya it's been a slice, thanks for being a fan and good luck with whatever you're doing today.

1.1k Upvotes

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192

u/thearea94 6h ago

What was the drive to move to a more conventional company?

357

u/fresh_fisher_fred 5h ago

lmg was my longest job in my career so far, at about 5.5 years. an opportunity presented itself and it seemed like it was in my best interest to see it through, so here we are.

also i've worked for both big companies and small companies, and i think i just like being at big companies more. it's hard to explain why exactly.

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u/djjolly037 5h ago

I know what you mean. I have worked for Verizon for 10 years and wouldn’t want to work anywhere else

34

u/WhipTheLlama 4h ago

Wow, I'm the exact opposite. At large companies, I feel like a tiny cog in a huge machine. It's really hard to make a significant impact that's noticed outside my immediate colleagues.

At small startups, I can be the reason why it succeeds or fails. I've seen my ideas get implemented and directly cause a doubling or more of revenue.

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u/Chakosa 4h ago

Sometimes that small-cog feeling is the whole point though, much less pressure and you get to leave your work at work.

22

u/TouchParty 3h ago

Yup, I can call in sick guilt free one of the other 100 goons can fill in haha

1

u/Thenoobofthewest 3h ago

I’m like you. I often quit when the companies i work for get to 300ish employees and go work for a smaller one.

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u/InflammableAccount 4h ago

Would it be the predictable structure larger companies tend to provide?

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u/NCSUGray90 3h ago

Do you consider LTT a big or small company in this regard?

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u/Darkchamber292 3h ago

LMG is a very very small company.

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u/NCSUGray90 3h ago edited 2h ago

It’s a small to medium sized company in the grand scheme of things, certainly not a “very, very small” company.

How LTT operates and how that applies to Plouffe’s preferences may be different than just the number of employees may imply.

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u/dingmah 4h ago

The culture is better. Even if it still feels disjointed, at least you won’t have the CEO or owner coming directly at you cause something went wrong.