Idea · carried by 1 source
Missionary-Mercenary Spectrum with Third Archetype
The classic missionary-vs-mercenary employee framework is incomplete. There's a third, arguably superior category: the employee who wants upside, stability, and a warm environment — and is willing to work hard for all three.
Where it comes from
William Hockey, discussing talent selection at Column, in highlights/william-hockey-bet-on-yourself (~43:52): “Everybody has personality types, everybody has different styles and you kind of have to figure out what is right for your business.”
How it works
- “Super smart, probably super pedigreed.”
- “Using your company as a launchpad for something else” — collecting two-year vested options from multiple companies and hoping one hits.
- “Can be a valuable employee, but you have to have a very specific type of company that is used to that churn and burn.”
- “Very mission-focused. The inspiration is super important to them.”
- “If you get that right, they will go to the ends of the earth for you regardless of their short-term benefits.”
- Downside: “The moment you want to be a little bit more commercially oriented... that can cause a lot of societal unrest.”
- “A combination of everything.”
- They want: “a ton of upside, but we also want stability... I like to be friends with my coworkers. I like to be in an environment that is warm and welcoming, but also gives me near-term and long-term financial value.”
- “I'm willing to work really hard to get there.”
- Column explicitly targets people in this category — those on their second company who understand equity math.
The best employees aren't pure missionaries or pure mercenaries — they're people who want the whole package: meaningful work, financial upside with real liquidity, and a healthy culture.