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What no one talks about when running and selling a business

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Re: What no one talks about when running and selling a business

#121
post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well the whole article came off as a humble brag, so there's that. He should just start collecting Porsches or flying airplanes or something. Jeez.

Can't say I agree. I think the commenters taking that tack are maybe adding a filter or two of their own to what the author is saying and being reactive to the less interesting parts of the article. That leads to a somewhat boring, if also exciting, round-of-denunciation sort of thread. (Boring-plus-exciting is the alcohol-plus-amphetamines of internet forums.) They're also ignoring the ways the author is already pil…

This is in no way related to this comment but I just wanted to say keep up the good work. I read Paul Graham's summary of you and my comment came across as mean and stupid. Anyway to say the least, moderating comments can't be easy and you take every one of them seriously. Thank you.

Re: What no one talks about when running and selling a business

#122
post #22
post #4

I also sold my startup. same story as far as revenue, exit etc. I'm not sure that selling your company was the reason for your social issues. I've had the best year of my life post acquisition - spending more time with family, friends and thinking what's next. constantly thinking about what's next, it's actually annoying that I can't turn it off. The "how much did you make" question is super annoying and it happens b…

I think this was a pretty shallow article. The author comes off as somewhat abrasive personality-wise. He's a natural born leader - we are reassured multiple times - but he seems to repeatedly annoy people in his life and can't figure out how to get 3 or 4 band-mates to follow him. OK. A lot of the money troubles are more about wealth inequality than anything specific to the startup world. When you're wealthy, you ne…

"Learning to be sensitive" is a bit of a cure all. Your best bet is to move somewhere else and pretend to be poor.

I know we like to put poor people up on a pedestal, and if we just act the right way, they'll accept you as one of there own, but a millionaire will never be accepted as intimately into a group as a person with similar financial status as them.

Re: What no one talks about when running and selling a business

#123

"I looked at her “like a little girl” when we were having a conversation." Almost all of the examples of 'having a hard time around other people' amount to their self perceptions not necessarily the authors actions. It's impossible to 'look at someone like a little girl'. It's mostly likely that these people either feel insecure, or, they project certain qualities upon the author. I have a very 'straight face' and be…

>It's impossible to 'look at someone like a little girl'. It's mostly likely that these people either feel insecure, or, they project certain qualities upon the author. What kind of person ends up surrounded by insecure feeling people like this?

Most people are at least subtly intimidated by those of very apparently higher economic or social standing.

... and people commonly make assumptions about what that person might be like, how they might think about things - assumptions which get projected onto a person which may in fact have no relevance at all.

It's very common that people with a great deal of wealth have trouble getting along with those that don't. Issues run both ways.

Re: What no one talks about when running and selling a business

#124
post #4

I also sold my startup. same story as far as revenue, exit etc. I'm not sure that selling your company was the reason for your social issues. I've had the best year of my life post acquisition - spending more time with family, friends and thinking what's next. constantly thinking about what's next, it's actually annoying that I can't turn it off. The "how much did you make" question is super annoying and it happens b…

> The "how much did you make" question is super annoying

Do you live in the Bay Area by any chance?

Re: What no one talks about when running and selling a business

#125
post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't say I agree. I think the commenters taking that tack are maybe adding a filter or two of their own to what the author is saying and being reactive to the less interesting parts of the article. That leads to a somewhat boring, if also exciting, round-of-denunciation sort of thread. (Boring-plus-exciting is the alcohol-plus-amphetamines of internet forums.) They're also ignoring the ways the author is already pil…

This is in no way related to this comment but I just wanted to say keep up the good work. I read Paul Graham's summary of you and my comment came across as mean and stupid. Anyway to say the least, moderating comments can't be easy and you take every one of them seriously. Thank you.

Thanks! Your comment didn't seem mean or stupid because you were defending something positive. But it's great for the community, and one of my favorite things on HN, when someone takes a second look and a more nuanced response arises. So your responses here (both of them) are a gift.

Re: What no one talks about when running and selling a business

#126
The part about leadership skills creating problems socially is spot on. Apparently I am a natural leader when in groups. (There is a natural "alpha" component to this skill; it's not all learned, but rather built upon at least some innate personality traits.) I acquired additional skills during years spent in management. This sometimes causes friction with others outside of work, and can be especially acute with family and close friends.

Occasional friction at work is expected, but when you are the leader by title, persuasion, expertise, and (best) because of "referent power," there are lots of ways to resolve conflicts over direction while preserving relationships. These methods often fail in relationships where the power structures are entirely different and have different bases. When you spend most of your time in one environment, it can be difficult to recognize that your skills don't translate to the other (social) environment.

In other words, if people sometimes think you're an asshole at work, the benefits of continuing the relationship often more easily outweigh the costs. The reverse is true in close personal relationships, where you're just an asshole. Then you either learn the different rules and accept that leadership is often much more subtle and soft, or you end up without friends and family.

And yes, money can change you for the worse, especially if you did not grow up with it. I have friends whom I discovered years later are third generation wealthy (9 figures) but basically live an upper middle class existence, minus the financial stress. I have other friends who were raised middle class and made a ton of money. They tend to be those complaining about people asking how much they've made.

It's the difference between living like Hyman Roth in the Godfather Part II, or living like Tony Montana in Scarface. If people are asking that, you're flashing too much. Either stop pimping your lifestyle, or stop worrying that people treat you like a pimp. Better yet, find a different class of people who also have money and won't ask. But the old money will still call you "noveau riche" for the remainder of your life.

Re: What no one talks about when running and selling a business

#127
post #22
post #4

I also sold my startup. same story as far as revenue, exit etc. I'm not sure that selling your company was the reason for your social issues. I've had the best year of my life post acquisition - spending more time with family, friends and thinking what's next. constantly thinking about what's next, it's actually annoying that I can't turn it off. The "how much did you make" question is super annoying and it happens b…

I think this was a pretty shallow article. The author comes off as somewhat abrasive personality-wise. He's a natural born leader - we are reassured multiple times - but he seems to repeatedly annoy people in his life and can't figure out how to get 3 or 4 band-mates to follow him. OK. A lot of the money troubles are more about wealth inequality than anything specific to the startup world. When you're wealthy, you ne…

[deleted]

Re: What no one talks about when running and selling a business

#128
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

ammmm, if your friendship requires constant hand holding then I would say it would better to lose them faster (early on) because they're not going to be around when you hit the hard times. My definition of a friend is someone you can rely on when things goes to shit eg... Being half way across the country and you've just been robbed and they drive 20 hours to pick you up. Now if they cannot even meet you half way acr…

> My definition of a friend is someone you can rely on when things goes to shit eg... Being half way across the country and you've just been robbed and they drive 20 hours to pick you up. Yes, that's one possible quality in a friend. Another is making time for _their_ shit as well and it doesn't sound like the author did very much of that. It's also nice to make time for friends without having to deal with either you…

Agree with the dilemma free part. I've found "adult" friendship works like this. Just hang out catch up have fun. Don't call me when your car breaks down, call a tow truck. I won't ask you to help me move, I'll hire movers.

The story of your car breaking down is good stuff. Let's talk about it over beers.

However, I say that with a realization that poorer people don't operate this way. They are still very much "it takes a village" and help each other with life's problems. Where I can relate with OP is when talking to these friends I'll say something like "move?! Eff that it's July/hot you just need to hire someone" without realizing they would not consider doing so as it's way too expensive for them. Then I look like a jerk because I would never consider doing manual labor in the heat

Re: What no one talks about when running and selling a business

#129
post #14

> Material things do not make people happy, at all. Everybody says this, all the time. I would like to propose the controversial theory that actually material things do make people happy, at least within certain constraints. When I was younger I had shitty cheap material things which made me unhappy. Now I have better stuff which makes me happier. I used to have a shitty unairconditioned apartment. That made me unhap…

Most of your examples above point to money == comfort, which I would agree with. I would argue, though, that the line from comfort to happiness is not as direct as most people assume

Evidently the line between comfort and happiness is $75,000/yr in the US -- below that and it's a struggle, beyond that and it's a burden:

http://wws.princeton.edu/news-and-events/news/item/75000-sti...

Re: What no one talks about when running and selling a business

#130
post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I fear most entrepreneurs really do care about leaving a mark. Any mark. Ad tech companies? Big data (selling) companies? Marketing (convince the consumer to buy something excessive) companies? LinkedIn and other companies that intentionally force dark patterns on their users? Security companies selling spyware and hacking tools to anyone who'll pay? The world could do with fewer of those marks IMO.

I'm confident most entrepreneurs care about leaving a good mark. It's just that people that are intent on leaving a bad mark, any mark, generally have an easier time of it.

Put someone with the best of intentions in a desperate, stressful, situation and you'll see a wide variety of outcomes.
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