Ten years working in the corporate world were part of my motivation for founding Cyzerg (the Anser Indicus Foundation was the other part). During those 10 years, I learned that recognition and promotions were all too often given on politics and being liked, not on the basis of merit. I also saw how hierarchies diminished and demoralized teams and productivity. None of this made sense for me from a business, human, or leadership perspective. So, I quit my high-paying job and ventured out on my own to build a different company.
So why am I telling you all this? Because if you are on this page, most likely you are considering a career working at Cyzerg, and I want you to know all about us – the good and the bad. I want you to hear it from me.
First, we are a company of merits (meritocracy), meaning that what really matters when working at Cyzerg are your merits and the positive impact you create in the company—not politics. Even if you start in the most junior position, if you are fearless, determined, hardworking, and intelligent—there are no limits. Second, there is no hierarchy. Although we do have a management structure, this is hardly perceived because we all work in open spaces—we don't use titles in email signatures or business cards, and we never refer to others by title or position. By the way, I dislike the word boss 😉. Titles drive egos, and egos destroy teams and cultures to varying degrees.
Although you might find this all good, the truth is that for some people, working at Cyzerg is not for them. Why? Because everyone at Cyzerg is held accountable every minute, every hour, and every day for their work and their actions. If you have a very strong work ethic, you'll love it because you will shine and grow, but if you do not, this place is not for you.
Two other aspects that can be a challenge or a joy are that we are perfectionists and crazy about integrity.
Although we are perfectionists, we allow ourselves the chance to fail, so long as we learn from our mistakes. A three-strike rule applies for the same type of mistake. So here again, if you are a natural perfectionist, you will enjoy it, but if you just want to get stuff done, you might want to reconsider.
Concerning integrity, I deeply believe that we all, regardless of our differences, want to be successful and live a happy life, but the truth is that some of us lack personal responsibility and consciously, and/or unconsciously, compromise our integrity—and this is completely unacceptable working at Cyzerg. The reasoning is simple: If we lack the character to face the ugliest truths about ourselves, personal and professional growth will be limited and, as a result, the company and the team will be negatively impacted. With that said, we are a company of opportunities, so if you have made mistakes but really learned from them, we want you on our team.
Before you continue any further, I would like to ask you to pause and think about it. Is this the right culture for you? Is this the culture where your career can blossom? Would you enjoy 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year of working at Cyzerg?
You are the only one who knows the truth. I deeply believe that the best hires happen when both the candidate and the employer are truly honest about things. You are much better equipped than us to decide if this is the right place for you. I wish you the best!
