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Re: More is More (when a secret is too secret)
I've another example of the unfortunate consequence of secrecy-unto-paranoia; this one is more ignominious. It's what happens when the Party With The Trade Secret is so cautious about defending said secret that the Party offends potential business partners. I happen to know of a certain Party whose trade secret consisted of a dazzling implementation, but it was not software code. This Party wanted to meet another Party I knew. Naturally I was pressed upon to set up an introduction. I obliged, by email. Party With The Trade Secret visits Sought Out Party (which, incidentally, was on the prowl for brilliant software engineers). The meeting does not go well. Sought Out Party is not charmed by the abruptness of the post-handshake proffering of Legal Documents. The longer this officious "I won't show you until you sign" discussion takes place, the greater the curiousity of Sought Out Party. This must be some wicked-ass code! The NDA is signed.... and.... what's this? it's... it's...only implementation? Only? Say what?! Bah! (I learn what took place by accounts filled with incredulity on the one hand, and bewilderment on the other.) Paranoid Secrecy and its accompaniments has strained relations with other business partners, too. Mention of the Party results in much rolling of the eyes and sighs of exasperation. The Moral of this unfortunate story, aside from its gossip value, is that it's possible to be so secret that you are not able to truly vet your idea and learn its worth. And once in a partnership, distrust and paranoia is a symmetric force: what you do comes back to you, and your business partners will treat you poorly. . . . . Oh, and if you are reading this, my little story is not about you. Surely not you. It's about some other party I know. Feeling paranoid? Look, it's no secret—I'm not out to get you. ; )
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