Ah ha. This is the Craigslist article I was hunting for when I trawled and caught the post below. Brilliant. Excerpt below, full shebang here.
Many people who have heard Newmark's public remarks find the ideals admirable but difficult to apply. What would such an approach mean in practice? His cause is not helped by the fact that if the craigslist management style resembles any political system, it is not democracy but rather a low-key popular dictatorship. Its inner workings are obscure, it publishes no account of its income or expenses, it has no obligation to respond to criticism, and all authority rests in the hands of a single man. Ask Newmark about any feature you would like to see on craigslist and you will always get the same response.
"Ask Jim," he says.
"How do you get your feedback? Have you ever done a poll or anything like that?"
"The thought makes me tired. But you can suggest that to Jim if you wish."
"What if Jim says no?"
"If you want to ask him again, you can," he says.
At this point in our conversation I begin to feel the spirit of Charlie Rose upon me. After all, Newmark is the founder, a major shareholder, and the public face of the company.
"What would it take to get you to fire Jim?" I ask.
Newmark matches me mischief for mischief.
"Ask Jim."
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