Jeff Bezos expects Amazon employees to work long, hard, and smart

Amazon CEO Jeff
Bezos.
rew Angerer/Getty
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• Amazon
  CEO Jeff
  Bezos has seen his company grow into one of the world’s
  biggest companies.
• Back in 1997, Bezos told shareholders that employees at
  other companies “can work long, hard, or smart, but at
  Amazon.com, you can’t choose two out of three.”
• Bezos acknowledges his high standards for employees
  every year, telling shareholders that “it’s not easy to work
  here.”

In the 24 years since Amazon was founded, CEO Jeff Bezos has seen
his company grow from a modest online bookshop to one of the

most valuable companies in the world.

Back in 1997, Bezos was already expecting big things out of his
young company. In his annual letter to Amazon shareholders, Bezos
described how much effort he expects from his employees. 

“When I interview people I tell them, ‘You can work long, hard,
or smart, but at Amazon.com you can’t choose two out of three,”

Bezos wrote in the 1997 letter.

“Setting the bar high in our approach to hiring has been, and
will continue to be, the single most important element of
Amazon.com’s success.”

The New York Times
reported in 2015 exactly how bruising the work environment at
Amazon can be. Reportedly, employees are expected to routinely
work late, are encouraged to criticize coworkers’ ideas at
meetings, and are often found crying at their desks. Amazon

refuted many of the claims in the Times investigation,
although the newspaper
defended its reporting.

Bezos acknowledged his high standards in that 1997 shareholders
letter, which he now republishes annually.

“It’s not easy to work here,” Bezos said. “But we are working to
build something important, something that matters to our
customers, something that we can all tell our grandchildren
about.”

He continued: “Such things aren’t meant to be easy. We are
incredibly fortunate to have this group of dedicated employees
whose sacrifices and passion build Amazon.com.”