81–88 of 88 posts
Dependants and student debt.
Was going to say the same thing. Gotta keep a steady income to manage student debt. My wife is also working on a masters. I'm still working on it at night, got a new idea this past month and working making it happen at home after work. Also got the company setup but other than that, I can't quit working the day job.
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Buy one way ticket to SF PS: I dont know why somebody downvoted this and dont really care about that. This was a case that changed lives for at least two friends of mine. I hope somebody might benefit from that. Its a question of like $500 for somebody in the UK. I fail to understand when ppl from well-developed countries complain for such small issues. Read what it takes from somebody from india china or pakistan to…
I suspect you're being downvoted by people who know what a huge amount of time and effort it actually takes to immigrate to the US. There's also the minor technicality that USCIS won't let you in the country with only a one way ticket.
Problems with US "immigration" for entrepreneurs are mostly overrated. In fact most of entreps dont need to immigrate until they "make it".
Been there. Done that.
If you really want - you can do that rather simply after making some research online. Not talking about getting citizenship or green card here(although its also quite double). Especially if you are from UK. So to me its a weak excuse, sorry.
PS: Proof - even YC accept foreign teams without any hassle.
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Sorry, but you will probably never have true security, or become truly wealthy, working for someone else. If some deep part of you wants to try starting a company, it's not healthy to suppress that, and if you do, my guess is you'll eventually regret it.
Not true. You MUCH more likely loose all you money when start a company in such situation. Programmers(especially good) are well payed($100k-$300k) (not dentists, but still:) ) and secure jobs. You can enjoy happy life with you family and be 9-6 employee. Besides you can join the RIGHT startup at the right time and get something like 10% less salary and options that might make you quite rich. The trick is in picking…
By far, the single thing most budding "entrepreneurs" lack is encouragement. It is unfortunately that simple.
Most people will tell you it's networking, or having capital, or a business plan, or even luck. All of those things are Step 2. Step 1 is starting, it is the point most people don't get past.
Novels 3/4 done; "great idea for a movie" that never makes it to script; business idea that never makes it past the cocktail napkin.
And all of that, in my experience, is not fear of failure but fear of the unknown. It is identical to the "cold approach" in dating. You're not afraid she'll mace you, you're afraid she'll ask you to sit with her and then you won't have anything to sustain the conversation.
"Will the world discover I'm a fraud?"
There is so much self-doubt and a lack of self-confidence. There are a myriad of reasons, summarized under the umbrella "we were taught to pursue security, not happiness."
No amount of startup capital can fix this problem. You will make poor decisions, you will stop short, you will be tentative, you will be nervous with the money. The problem is you, not the system.
As time and generations pass, we don't learn to deal with failure, we are taught to avoid failure. Instead of sending the kids outside to play and teaching them how to be safe around sticks/bullies/heights, it's easier to leave them in the playroom.
The solution, therefore, is to fail. A lot. And as fast as possible, as young as possible. If you're Forget about finishing your novel. Put up the first five chapters on a blog. Force yourself to read the comments.
Think you're a filmmaker? Put up ten photos-- still pics-- on Flickr. And invite the hate. See if you really have an eye for this. If you don't, now you are free to try something else.
Etc.
At best, they may love you and there's your encouragement. Or maybe someone sees your work and a collaboration is born.
At worst, they hate you, and you realize you're still ok, you didn't run uptown for heroin.
Either way, the failure will hold your hand and walk you to success.
Bottom line, my motivation right now is I have to do something, NOW. I'm 30 and I would like to start a family soon, going to get marry next year. I don't want to be in a position where I kick myself in the butt 5 yrs from now - "Why didn't I do this 5 yrs ago when I had time?" Even if I were to fail, at least I can say "I tried."
Salford in Greater Manchester (UK) is the antithesis of startup hub :(
You're kidding right? Manchester's heaving with activity. Just look at CWJobs (ok, I know that's different to startups, but it shows dev activity in the area). Also, I live 40 miles north of you in Preston, and there's very little here. Doesn't stop me dreaming of my own startup one day. That said, my excuse is: Before I got into software dev I tried to get into the music business. Unfortunately, that's much more abo…
Although, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I'm hoping I'll find some friends at Manchester Uni when I get round to going.
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I suspect you're being downvoted by people who know what a huge amount of time and effort it actually takes to immigrate to the US. There's also the minor technicality that USCIS won't let you in the country with only a one way ticket.
Well in may case one way ticket was idiom of course. Get return ticket with open date, whatever. What i meant to say is that the world is open to smart entrepreneurs. Its rare talent thats welcomed everywhere. If you sure that on some reason you cant do something in Manchester there is nothing to stop you from moving to anywhere from China to US. Problems with US "immigration" for entrepreneurs are mostly overrated.…
Emphasis on Salford. There are places in UK that are viable for startups but Salford is just not one of them. The issue here is that I don't have enough money to move yet, so it's not entirely a weak excuse.