Written By: Janine Kick
I was recently sent a Twitter thread from Michael Arrington the founder of TechCrunch, Crunchbase, and Arrington Capital. He passed on a deal that was nearly across the line because the founder was rude to their server. I won’t spoil it for you, but as you can imagine the thread is well…colorful.
If you’ve ever toured the Kerosene website you’re likely to have come across the ‘team’ section and noticed our Uber scores are listed. It’s something we’ve become incredibly competitive about as a team and find really interesting both internally and externally. I admittedly score the lowest but still sit at a respectable 4.92. I never said I was perfect! 😇
When we started Kerosene in 2020 we decided our first (and only) official rule at the time was a ‘no @$$h0l3 policy’. So, as you can imagine when I saw Arrington’s post, it struck a chord. Our gauge for no @$$h0l3s is at least in part reflected through an individual’s Uber score. We found the concept of dozens if not hundreds of strangers scoring your politeness, timekeeping and overall demeanor while you’re being transported from point A to point B as good of a proxy as there can be.
I’m sure you’ve heard varying versions of this ‘likeability’ test. The beer test – do you want to grab a couple of beers with this person? Or Google’s LAX test – You’re stuck in the airport for 6 hours with someone, do you enjoy conversing with them and want to continue when you finally get on your flight? Or better, do you restack your bins after going through security? In a virtual world where we don’t always have the luxury of meeting in person, an Uber score appears to be a good litmus test.
I say all this because how you treat people impacts you in ways many may never consider – especially through the fundraising process. Manners are a form of kindness and evidence you’ve considered the recipient’s feelings. When the stakes are high, the pressure is even higher, your ability to treat those around you – regardless of what they can do for you – with respect, displays respect.
My point is your character counts, your behavior in unscripted settings speaks volumes and you never know who may be watching. Don’t be an @$$h0l3!
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