In an interview with Ashlee Vance at Bloomberg:
Bloomberg: The internet says you might be a tyrant. Are you a tyrant?
Fadell: You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs. That style may not be for everyone. But, you know, there are people that worked with me years ago at General Magic, and they have their kids working for me now. If it was true, it would get around like crazy. The Valley’s a small place. I’ve been here 25 years, right?
To me, it’s truly, what’s your mindset? Are you coming to work? Are you truly respecting the mission we’re on? Yes, things are going to go up and down. But because we have a true respect for the people, because they respect what we’re trying to do, we’ll get through anything together. And that’s what counts, right?
Bloomberg: What do you wish you had done differently at Nest?
Fadell: I don’t know of any regrets that I have.
I can understand getting stuff done at the cost of other things, but it’s easy to argue that Nest isn’t actually getting stuff done. That aside, no project or product is worth being a dick.