Are you running on “dirty energy”?
Plus: Why job titles might be holding your team back.
· 707 words
Melanie Gabriel & Christian Woese
December 17, 2024 • Read time: 3 minutes
Dear hustlers, founders, operators and visionaries,
Klarna has a new fintech feature: alcohol and drug tests for employees in its Swedish offices starting next year. What a milestone to reach in startup land’s work-hard-play-hard culture. For those looking to dodge the buzzkill, Forbes magazine’s first high-end private members club in Madrid might offer a safer haven - assuming you can afford the velvet rope. Follow the Gradient and stay tuned.
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Your talk track for this week’s cocktail party
Revolut insiders cash in $1bn
Early employees and existing investors of Revolut have completed a secondary share sale worth over $1bn, realizing their significant paper gains. Valued at over $45bn, Revolut is widely expected to prepare an IPO in 2025, solidifying its place as a true challenger to traditional banks.
Zalando bids for About You
E-commerce giant Zalando has submitted a binding offer to buy 100% of the shares of online fashion retailer About You. The transactions is valued at €1.1bn and would create a pan-European e-commerce powerhouse designed to combat the increasing competition from low-cost retailers like Shein.
What do you meme?
Food for thought
What drives you?
Are you running your startup on “dirty fuel”? Jesse Pujji highlights the five energies leaders rely on:
Fear | Crisis-driven urgency: short-term gain, long-term burnout.
Status | Chasing titles and recognition: fleeting and hollow.
Achievement | Always beating the numbers: unsustainable.
Genius | Operating in your zone of excellence: effortless and impactful.
Impact | Helping others thrive: the purest and most energizing fuel.
“You could run a cancer-curing company with fear, and it would still feel miserable.” So, the takeaway? Shift from fear to genius and impact energy - transform your work, your team, and yourself.
No titles, just impact: ElevenLabs' bold move
ElevenLabs scrapped job titles to focus on one question: Where can I have the most impact right now? By removing ladders, they aim to build a flexible, outcome-driven culture. Challenges like hiring clarity and career progression remain, but the upside? Bigger responsibilities, faster growth, and fewer distractions. Could this work for your team?
Europe vs US: Health over wealth?
Founder Nick Mulder challenges the “Europe sucks” narrative with a fresh perspective. While Silicon Valley salaries dwarf European ones - $320K vs. $65K for senior engineers in Germany - what about life beyond paychecks? For families, Europe offers universal healthcare, affordable education, and lower living costs. Health over wealth? Mulder argues that Europe still wins when you zoom out. Agree or disagree?
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Smart hack
Instead of feeling that you lost the day after a bad morning: Reframe each day as 4 quarters: morning, midday, afternoon and evening. If you blow one quarter, just get back on track for the next one. Fail small, not big. - Gretchen Rubin
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