Ask HN: What keeps you from beginning your Start Up? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from beginning your Start Up?

#41

Post by sjs382 » Fri, Sep 12, 2008, 9:42 PM UTC

I work 30 hours a week. I'm taking a heavier course load than I ever have. And to top it off, I'm in a semi-long-distance relationship (3 hour drive) and make every effort to see my SO.

My current job isn't so bad, either. The pay is peanuts, but it isn't "corporate" (100-ish employees, but just 6 in my department) and they've been great about working around my school schedule for the last 4 years.

So yeah, jumping feet-first into entrepreneurial waters is appealing to me for all the usual reasons, but I just don't have the time to devote to it right now. And weekends are off limits, too.

I should have more time in the spring, but Spring Fever usually starts early for me. :)

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from beginning your Start Up?

#42

Post by omfut » Fri, Sep 12, 2008, 9:44 PM UTC

I have been working for more than a decade in startups, and when folks as me why im still continuing doing so, simple answer is- the passion and the drive to work on something innovate, that, someday will change the world.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from beginning your Start Up?

#43

Post by omfut » Fri, Sep 12, 2008, 9:46 PM UTC

webwright wrote: post #23

I don't think startup people are "quitting their boss" (i.e. running FROM something), but they are rather running TO something that is magical and not entirely rationale. Statistically/financially, it's a dumb decision to start a startup-- but it doesn't matter. You can sit down, run the numbers, make pro/con lists-- but it doesn't matter. You've already lost. Here's what you can't match: 1) The big win. You can heap…

I like the last line Doing a startup isn't a sensible CAREER decision... It's a largely emotional lifestyle decision

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from beginning your Start Up?

#44

Post by siong1987 » Fri, Sep 12, 2008, 10:29 PM UTC

swombat wrote: post #6

Nothing, I'm on my second one. Oh, and to answer your question, what made me go start my own business is I couldn't stand the way things were done in the big corp world. I'm impatient. I want to get things done. I want to achieve things. I cannot stand the idea of being given orders. I have no respect for authority, only for competence. I want to realise my potential. The tedious and endless game of corporate politic…

I never work in a company before. Now I am still a student. But, I have this intention that I am going to start my own startup after I graduate( hopefully I don't have to wait after I graduate ). As a student majoring in Computer Science, I feel that the rules and regulations in the school really don't favor a business-minded programmer.

Personally, I really don't like the formal schedule that you have to follow strictly( imagine you have to go to your company everyday 0-5 ). Programmer usually likes to code when the ideas come. And, this "productive time" is varied with person. So, fixed working time in big corp really is not an ideal environment for a programmer.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from beginning your Start Up?

#45

Post by edw519 » Fri, Sep 12, 2008, 11:29 PM UTC

Have I missed anything?

Yes.

No matter how pretty you make your diapers, they still have your baby's shit in them.

Entrepreneurs want to change their own babies' diapers.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from beginning your Start Up?

#46

Post by hopeless » Fri, Sep 12, 2008, 11:53 PM UTC

What stops me starting a business or even working for a startup?

A 6 month old daughter and a wife who's been made redundant. All dreams and ambitions play second fiddle to keeping your family alive.

My day job was a smallish business that got bought out by one of the largest IT companies in the world and the birth rate has shot up dramatically since we were acquired.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from beginning your Start Up?

#47

Post by hopeless » Fri, Sep 12, 2008, 11:57 PM UTC

edw519 wrote: post #45

Have I missed anything? Yes. No matter how pretty you make your diapers, they still have your baby's shit in them. Entrepreneurs want to change their own babies' diapers.

And parents just want to be able to afford diapers - so a risky startup with long hours and little immediate pay, is very hard pill to swallow. Startups are great in your early twenties (I worked in 3 -- all bust now) but your life (hopefully!) won't always remain as carefree. For most people, 30's and 40's are a different matter altogether.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from beginning your Start Up?

#48

Post by thaumaturgy » Sat, Sep 13, 2008, 2:44 AM UTC

rokhayakebe wrote: post #21

Be the first to fund his startup. This is one mistake employers do. Do not try to retain him. If he wants it enough (and in this case he does) he will sooner or later find a way to make it happen. Join him. Give him office space. You can still use his brain while he is around. EDIT: Entrepreneurs should also not be afraid to share their ambitions with their boss. That is only if your boss started his own business. Yo…

That's really not a bad idea at all. I don't know all of the circumstances of their situation, but they might be able to set something up where jmagar will earnestly support and help launch his employee's startup, for a share of the action. While the startup's getting off the ground, the employee might be able to continue a few responsibilities at the company.

I know I would have jumped at a chance like that, mostly because I was scared witless of being without a regular paycheck.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from beginning your Start Up?

#49

Post by thaumaturgy » Sat, Sep 13, 2008, 2:46 AM UTC

webwright wrote: post #23

I don't think startup people are "quitting their boss" (i.e. running FROM something), but they are rather running TO something that is magical and not entirely rationale. Statistically/financially, it's a dumb decision to start a startup-- but it doesn't matter. You can sit down, run the numbers, make pro/con lists-- but it doesn't matter. You've already lost. Here's what you can't match: 1) The big win. You can heap…

| 2) His baby. His own company. A sense of TRUE ownership.

I'm surprised that more people aren't making this point.

I think it's common among entrepreneurs to take ownership of some idea -- not in terms of stock or revenue, but more like parenthood -- and want to see it through to completion, on their terms, their way.

Re: Ask HN: What keeps you from beginning your Start Up?

#50

Post by anamax » Sat, Sep 13, 2008, 3:21 AM UTC

ptn wrote: post #19

Im in Peru, so I first have to figure out a way to move to a startup hub and only then can I start. I'm possibly going for a scholarship to do a masters, which would delay me (I must finish it, being a scholarship I can't drop out), but at least would get me there. This is kinda frustrating, because to get a scholarship I must have good grades, but studying steals hacking time... In the meantime, I'm honing my progra…

As someone who makes fun of folks who say "{place} is just as good for startups as SV", I want to point out that you don't have to move to a startup hub to do a startup.

There are advantages to doing a startup where you are. If/when you move, it will take you a while to learn as much as you currently know about the resources where you are now. In addition, you can start now instead of waiting.