by Ben Horowitz
Intersil, 9
interviews
questions during, 107–9
and selection of employees, 172–78, 189–94
Ive, Jony, 47
Jadaran clan, 143
James, C. L. R., 21–22, 37, 40, 43
Jamuka (Mongol), 143, 144, 150, 151, 157
Japan. See bushido; samurai
JavaScript, 106
Jelme (follower of Genghis Khan), 149
Jerks (culture breakers), 218–19. See also Prophets of Rage
Jet.com, 11
Jin people, 147–48
job descriptions, 172–73. See also hiring profiles; talent
Jobs, Steve, 45–48, 186, 228–29, 231
Jordan, Jeff, 205
Jurkin clan, 152
justice: and samurai culture, 95
Kalanick, Travis, 16, 78–80, 81, 82, 83–84, 85, 88, 232
keep what works: as Louverture tactic, 30–31, 45–48
Kelman, Ariel, 53–54
Kereyid clan, 153
Kerry, John, 72
Khanna, Suressh, 190
Khasar (brother of Genghis Khan), 142, 143, 153
Khitan clan, 153
Khosla Ventures, 199
Khosrowshahi, Dara, 88, 133, 232
kimchi problems, 239
kinship. See family/kinship
Lacroix, Pamphile de, 40
layoffs, 234, 235–36
leadership
and assigning new meanings, 235–36
and being yourself, 181
and believing/living the code, 131–32
charismatic, 114
collaborative, 135
culture as reflection of values of, 135–36
and dealing with culture breakers, 216–23
and identification of who you are, 16
inconsistent/hypocritical, 36–38
and Louverture tactics, 34–35, 36–38, 59–67
meaning of, 246
outside, 34–35, 59–67, 245
relevance of, 127–28
role in creating culture of, 16
and Senghor culture, 127–28
shortcomings of, 135–36
values and, 36–38, 135–36
voids in, 196
and walk the talk, 36–38
and what you do is who you are, 1–2
and your culture, 235–36, 245
See also specific person or business
Lenin, Vladimir, 30
LimeBike, 204
Lincoln, Abraham, 236–37
LISP language, 67
London Gazette, 28–29
Lorne, Sy, 64–65, 66
LoudCloud, 1–3, 59–60, 77–78, 135–36, 241
Louis XVI (king of France), 26, 76
Louverture, Toussaint
appearance of, 23
arrest of, 41, 43
blending of cultures by, 22
character of, 23, 29, 246
and culture as infectious, 131
as culture model, 12, 13, 15, 16
death of, 41
education of, 23–24
as embodying his own standards, 37, 246
enduring power of, 43
as “Father,” 40
forgiveness of slave owners by, 71, 246
historical impact of, 43–44
personal background of, 13–15
Pickering letter to, 29–30
reprogramming of slave culture by, 21–22, 28–41
rise of, 25–27
as slave owner, 25
tactics/techniques of, 16, 30–41, 45–89
trust of, 42–43
weakness of, 42–43, 76
who was, 23–25
love: and samurai culture, 97, 245
loyalty
and culture as universal, 133
definition of, 150
and Genghis Khan culture, 145, 148, 149, 150–51, 152, 173
importance of, 242
and inclusion in modern world, 167–72
and prison culture, 119, 120–21
and samurai culture, 92–93, 103–4
and Senghor culture, 133
and your culture, 242–44
Lyft, 80–81, 168
lying
and designing your culture, 198–99
and messed up cultures, 211
See also honesty/truth; integrity
Malcolm X, 114, 115
marriage
and Genghis Khan culture, 152, 154, 173
and Louverture culture, 32
Martin, Rosa J., 158, 159, 160
Master Archer (warrior), 93
Mayer, Marissa, 55–56
McDaniels, Ralph, 6
McDonald’s, 16, 157, 160–67
McKinnon, Todd, 197–99
McLynn, Frank, 140–41, 145, 149, 153, 155
McMahon, John, 193–94
meditation, 94
meetings
at Amazon, 53–54
and bad news, 240–41
and being yourself, 184
daily, 230
and decision making, 230
as game, 158
and inclusion, 158
Melanics (prison gang), 113–17, 118–19, 137
memorable: rules as, 48, 50
“memory leaks,” 67–68
meritocracy
and building culture, 128
and Genghis Khan culture, 13, 146–47, 148–50
and inclusion in modern world, 167–72
Merkid clan, 143–44, 153
messed up culture: signs of, 209–11
microchips (integrated circuits), 7–8
Microsoft, 50, 51
military
culture and, 146–48
See also Genghis Khan
Million Man March, 122
Mines, Raymond, 162, 163–64
minority
how to succeed as, 164–65
See also race; women
mission
and assigning new meanings, 236
and culture, 2–3, 5, 55
and designing your culture, 186
virtues and, 186
mistakes: fixing and admitting, 75–76
Money Man (prison leader), 120–21
Mongols
breakup of empire of, 155
and Chinese, 154
Genghis Khan as leader of, 144–46
motivation for, 145
See also Genghis Khan
Moore, Gordon, 9
Moorish Science Temple of America (prison gang), 113
Morgridge, John, 104
motivation: for Mongols, 145
Move fast and break things rule, 54–55
Move fast with stable infrastructure motto, 55
mulattoes: and Louverture tactics, 34, 37, 41
music industry: Stoute-Horowitz discussion about, 174
my way or the highway, 223–24
MySpace, 54, 55
Napoleon Bonaparte, 21, 41, 42, 43
Nas (rapper), 7, 19
Nassib, Ryan, 50
Nation of Islam (organization), 122
Nation of Islam (prison gang), 113, 114, 119, 120–21
NationBuilder, 137–38
Netflix, 16, 68–71, 228
Netscape Communications, 104–6
New York Giants, 49–50
New York Times
and “Coughlin Time” rule, 49–50
Huawei article in, 85–86
NewMe, 177
Nordstrom, 201
Northrop, 160
Notorious B.I.G. (rapper), 90, 127
Noyce, Bob, 7–9, 11, 12
oaths, Baljuna, 152–53
object lessons
definition of, 211–12
and your culture, 211–16, 245
Oedipus, 42
Okta, 168, 197–99
Ola (India car company), 84
Olajuwon, Hakeem, 180–81
Ong Khan, 143, 152
Opsware
and bad news, 241
dealing with culture breakers at, 217–18
feedback at, 185
formation of, 77, 241
and Louverture culture, 60–63, 64–66, 77–78
and outside leadership, 60–63, 64–66
resuscitating culture at, 77–78
sale of, 19, 78, 195
walking the talk at, 77–78, 185
Oracle, 89
Otto (Waymo spinoff), 82
Ovitz, Michael, 58–59
ownership: and bad news, 239, 240
Packard, Dave, 229
Page, Larry, 227, 228–29, 232
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), 228
Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC), 193–94
parents: and samurai culture, 91, 92
partnerships, 50–52
PC industry: economic structure of, 47
peacetime decisions, 229–32
perfection
of culture, 180
and dealing with culture breakers, 220–21
and decisions, 232
Prophets of Rage and, 220–21
of your culture, 246
performance reviews, 131–32
personal appearance: and samurai culture, 93
personal computer (PC) economics, 46
personality
of CEOs, 232
and culture, 1–2, 16
decision making and, 232
and your culture, 233, 244
Phat Startup, 177
phishing attacks, 72–76
Pickering, Thomas, 29–30
Pinterest, 204
pity parties, 161–62, 164
Podesta, John, 72–76
politeness: and samurai culture, 95, 96–97, 98, 100–101, 245
Powell, Colin, 72
power. See empowerment/power
President’s Award, McDonald’s, 161–62
principles
breakdown of, 200–232
and building culture, 128
checklist of crucial, 16
and definition of culture, 127
of Genghis Khan, 148–55
of Senghor, 117–18, 119–20
universality of, 117–18
violation of, 200–232
See also specific principle
priorities, 67–71, 246
prison
bonding in, 124
building culture in, 110–22
changing culture in, 14, 121–22, 123–26
conflicts in, 123–24
and culture as changing people, 128–29
as culture model, 3–4, 14, 15
drugs in, 119
gangs in, 113–22
leadership in, 114–22
orientation in, 110–13
Senghor in, 108–9, 110–26, 128–30
unintended consequences of culture in, 118–22
and weaponizing the code, 133–34
See also Senghor, Shaka
products/service
and culture as strong force, 5
and evolution of culture, 35
and failed companies, 17
and goals of companies, 34–35
honesty about, 234
and Louverture techniques, 46–48
and what makes a culture work, 14
See also specific business or product/service
profanity, 230
promises, breaking, 206–9
promotion policies, 202–6
proofs of concept (POCs), 63–64
Prophets of Rage (culture breakers), 219–23
PTC (company), 61
Public Enemy (rap group), 200, 219
Purdue University: Thompson at, 159–60
Pure Software, 68
Qualidyne, 9
quality: and samurai culture, 91–92
quality of life: questions about, 156–57
questions
asking wrong, 115
and bad news, 242
and designing your culture, 188, 194
follow-up, 108
and quality of life, 156–57
See also why?
race/color
behavior and, 24–25
and character, 28–29
inclusion and, 157–67, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178
Louverture theory/tactics and, 28, 34
See also Haitian Revolution; Thompson, Don
Rational Software, 68
Raynal, Abbé, 23–24, 25
Raytheon Semiconductor, 9
recession: when customer obsession leads to, 200–201
rectitude: and samurai culture, 95
“red lines,” 86
relationships
and loyalty, 243–44
See also type of relationship
religion: and Genghis Khan culture, 154
Research In Motion (RIM), 201
respect
and samurai culture, 96, 97, 98–100, 245
and your culture, 242, 245
responsibility
and bad news, 239
decisions and, 225
and designing your culture, 192
power and, 116
and prison culture, 116–17
Senghor views about, 116, 126
retreat: of McDonald inclusion leaders, 166–67
revenge: and Louverture tactics, 35, 37, 43
rewards for employees, 210
Rigaud, Andre, 37–38
“right thing.” See do the right thing
Ritz-Carlton, 201
Robbins, Tony, 156
Roberts, Lenny, 6
Roger (flake), 217–18
role models, 180–81
Ross, Rick, 156
rule of law: and Genghis Khan culture, 149
rules
breaking your own, 201–6
daily encounter of, 49, 50
and decision making, 225, 231
impact of, 49
of Louverture, 31–33, 48–56
as memorable, 48, 50
rules for writing, 48–49
and samurai culture, 92
shocking, 31–33, 48–56, 211, 245
side effects of, 68
and trust, 31–33
why? of, 32–33, 49, 50, 51, 211, 245
and your culture, 245
See also specific rule or business/organization
Russia: and Podesta-Democratic Party emails, 72–76
Saint-Domingue
constitution for, 27
historical impact of, 43–44
and reprogramming of slave culture, 28–41
revolution in, 25–27, 28
slavery abolished in, 27
U.S. trade with, 29–30
See also Haitian Revolution; Louverture, Toussaint
sales
and Louverture techniques, 60–63
as subculture, 187–89
as team sport, 63
Salesforce.com, 197
samurai
application of culture of, 98–106
cultural tenets of, 245
as culture model, 13, 15
and death, 91–95, 106
and flea story, 95
impact of, 106
and making culture last, 100–103
meaning of culture to, 91
oath of, 91
and rules, 92
virtues of, 13
See also bushido
Schiltz, Shannon, 65–66
Schmidt, Eric, 232
Scully, John, 186
The Secret History of the Mongols, 140, 144
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), 106
self-control: and samurai culture, 95
Senghor, Shaka
accomplishments of, 110
appearance of, 108
application of culture of, 127–38
and being yourself, 186
and changing culture, 121–22, 123–26, 135–36, 137–38
and changing self, 135–36
as culture model, 3–4, 14, 15
and Genghis Khan culture, 151
Horowitz discussions with, 109–10
inclusion of, 186
and living the code, 131–32
name changes of, 116
Oprah interview of, 108–9
personal background of, 107–8, 109
post-prison life of, 126
principles of, 117–18, 119–20
in prison, 108–9, 110–26, 128–30, 135–36, 244–45
strategy of, 186
See also prison
sexual harassment, 82–84, 85
Sheila (marketing officer), 205–6
shocking rules, 211, 245
side agreements, 215–16
Siebel Systems, 50
Signetics, 9
Silicon Valley
caste system in, 167
culture of, 9
default culture in, 128
See also specific person or business
sincerity: and samurai culture, 95, 97–98
Slack, 4, 134–35, 190–92
slavery
contrarian thinking about, 19–22
as dehumanizing/brutal, 20–22
ending of, 19–20
and forgiveness of slave owners, 71, 246
historical impact of, 43–44
impact on culture of, 20–21
and Louverture legacy, 43–44
and reprogramming of slave culture, 21–22, 28–41
revolutions against, 20
tactics for transforming culture of, 30–41
See also Haitian Revolution; Louverture, Toussaint; Saint-Domingue
smartness: and designing your culture, 190–91
Smith, Judy, 177
snake story, 105–6
Soma, Lord: family history of, 103–4
Sony, 198–99
Spain: and Haitian Revolution, 21, 26, 27, 44, 66
speed: for making decisions, 225–27
Ssu-ma Ch’ien (historian), 212
Starkey, Chip, 63–64
stock options, employee, 11, 12, 170
Stoney (prisoner), 120–21
Stop Think Practices (STP) prison program, 124–25
stories: as defining culture, 103–6
Stoute, Steve, 174
strategy
and your culture, 185–86, 233, 244
See also specific strategy
streaming, 69–71
Stripe, 190, 243
subcultures, 187–89
success: and culture, 17
Sun Tzu (ancient Chinese commander), 212–15, 245
Sunni Muslims (prison gang), 113, 114
survivorship bias, 14
Symbolics Inc., 67–68
T Man, 114–15
T-Mobile, 86
tactics
enforcement of, 40
of Genghis Khan, 148–55, 157, 172–73
guerrilla, 31
of Louverture, 30–41, 45–89
See also principles; specific tactic
talent
and Genghis Khan culture, 155, 172–73, 175
and inclusion in modern world, 173, 175–78
Target, 159
Tayichiud tribe, 140, 141, 142
technology. See specific person, company, or idea
Temujin. See Genghis Khan
Thiel, Peter, 19