Generally, what people tend to underestimate is the cyborg nature of Groupon. We are a company that has the DNA of being both a technology company and a heavily operational company.
When you think of couponing, you picture a mom cutting coupons out of the back of the newspaper.
Most small business owners are not particularly sophisticated business people. That’s not a criticism they’re passionate about cutting hair or cooking food, and that’s why they got in the business, not because they have an MBA.
The experience is fundamentally different for buying from local businesses than it is for buying consumer goods.
I think if there’s any difference between me and a traditional CEO, it’s that I’ve been unwilling to change myself or shape my personality around what’s expected.