---
title: "Love: The Only Barrier to Entry Worth a Damn"
date: 2007-06-01T09:08:34Z
modified: 2007-06-01T09:08:34Z
permalink: "https://redmonk.com/jgovernor/love-the-only-barrier-to-entry-worth-a-damn/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 1143
categories:
  - Uncategorized
timestamp: 2007-06-01T09:08:34Z
tags:
  - Uncategorized
---

Sometimes I read my colleague [Stephen O’Grady](http://www.redmonk.com/sogrady/) with dread, with a mounting existential horror. He is so good, writes so well, is so insightful, with a dry wit and no lack of charm, that I ask myself: What if he goes somewhere else? But then I remember, and breathe again. Why does Stephen do such great work? Because he can. You can see he loves what he does, and I can’t imagine there is anywhere else he would have the freedom. Stephen has the freedom to leave, sure. He could probably quadruple his salary if he went over to Gartner. But that’s the least of my worries. You can’t chain your colleagues, partners or customers to you. You can only help them love what they are doing, and when people feel like that you’re in good shape.

At RedMonk we fundamentally believe in lower barriers and open networks. No contract will cause people to do fantastic work. Only love works that way.