So, Germany wants to know the secret sauce that makes Google successful

Well, let me spare a few minutes and give you guys a rundown on the deepest secrets that make Google successful.

In fact, myself and other German Googlers are all too eager to explain German companies how to be as innovative and successful as Google.
+Frederik G. Pferdt was just recently in Germany, disclosing some of the "secret internals" how Google works: http://www.schwaebische.de/region_artikel,-Kreativitaet-ist-kinderleicht-Ex-Ravensburger-erklaert-die-Welt-von-Google-_arid,10055664_toid,535.html
And then there's +Eric Schmidt who recently published a whole book called "How Google Works".

Oh, that's not enough? You want the real secret how actually it works?

Well, let me give you a few ideas why companies in the "Silicon Valley" (Incl. Google) are more successful than in Germany.

Let your employees be passionate.  When I worked at a supplier to Siemens in Erlangen, i had a important product launch on Monday. I was literally escorted out the building on Friday by security because noone is allowed in the office after 8PM, and not at all on weekends. Some union law, security, etc.
Here at Google we have "Bacon Sundays" where management and the team stay late and work sometimes even on weekends (yes, heaven forbid, even SUNDAY) when we get ready for a big launch. Everyone is passionate, everyone wants to give its 110%.
No, I dont feel exploited, I feel proud to do my part to change the world!

In Germany I wanted to introduce a Linux Server at my company. The IT guy told me that we only do NOVEL servers. period. Quote: "Over his dead body" will he let a Linux machine in his server room.
Because we've always used Novel for everything.
That was 1997, around the same time Larry introduced the famous "cork-board" Linux Servers which were home built off the shelf Linux servers.

At another company my manager told me he doesn't want me to lead a critical team, because I ride a motorcycle, and that is too risky. Quote: "Does your mother know you ride a motorcycle" - I was 35, this is none of my mothers business, or - my managers.
At Google we have +Sergey Brin who frequently jumps out of airplanes. Risk taking is encouraged.

At previous jobs I have seen managers who spent their entire year trying to cover up a mistake and make excuses. At Google, we "Fail Fast" and learn from our mistakes.
In Germany, admitting a mistake is a career limiting thing. At Google we say - If you don't occasionally fail, you're not thinking big enough. And when you fail, we ask "what did you learn from it?"

I have been in companies where I had a new idea, and was told "I've been here 27 years, and I tell you how we do this here!"
At Google we have 27 yr old managers who are in charge of billion dollar moonshots. And they have 50yr old employees reporting to them who respect their authority.

But truely the most unique thing:  At Google, we have our founders be THERE and with the people.
You will see Eric at lunch, bump into Sergey in the elevator and - if you come to the weekly all-hands, you can ask them ANYTHING.
They will genuinely try to answer your questions.

When was the last time any "Rank and File" Employee at Axel Springer has asked a candid question to the CEO Mathias Döpfner?

THAT is the true secret of Google's success.
Not some silly search algorithm.

If you're really interested in the search algorithm, you can always read up on it here:  http://infolab.stanford.edu/~backrub/google.html

</rant>

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