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Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

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Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#431

Post by daxfohl »

throwaway10595 wrote: post #6
mindcrime wrote: post #4

I mean, it's hard to truly know what somebody else is experiencing and to give advice in a situation like that. But if you're that close to an acquisition and if the acquistion stands to make a material difference in your life going forward (like, does it get you to "fu money"), then I'd lean towards "suck it up and stay long enough to cash out". OTOH, if the acquisition gets you, say, enough money for a new car, but…

I'd say it's not fu money. We're talking total deal size of I do think I'd regret not following through, you're right. The question is whether that regret is worse than multiple years of hating work. I guess I'm probably the only one who can answer that. I just took a week off and went out of town. Although everyone did manage to leave me alone while I was gone, people tried to do my job because they didn't want to k…

Maybe try a staycation next time. Hang out in the office, let people do your job, watch over their shoulders and instruct them, but leave your own PC turned off for the duration. (And definitely don't do 8+ hour days).

In fact, maybe make that into a company policy where you do that one week per quarter such that the company doesn't fold if you get hit by a bus. Employees may actually like the idea.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#432

Post by eeZah7Ux »

vacri wrote: post #84
creepydata wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll offer a counterpoint, as long as your management is effective there's plenty to love about those sorts of jobs. They are actually not bad at all other than the pay. No stress, no thinking, lots of moving around, no worry about the "bigger picture" as a founder must do. I've cleaned hotel rooms, stocked shelves at a discount store, worked the register at a grocery store, and unloaded trucks in a wearhouse. The on…

> No stress I've had my share of these jobs as well, and they pay terribly. Living hand-to-mouth is a stress in itself. And I had zero dependents. Being a founder is exceptionally stressful, but don't overcompensate and pretend that life as a minimum wager is carefree. The proof in the pudding is this: people don't move into these jobs if they have something else going on. Hospitality is a classic example - full of y…

Don't generalize - it really depends on the country.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#433

Post by daxfohl »

throwaway122394 wrote: post #410

As a founder I can definitely relate. Everyday driving to/from the office my chest is so tight it feels hard to breath. I constantly think about my old friends that have real weekends, have time for hobbies, and get to leave their work at work. The main reason I keep going is that I actually enjoy the work. When I take a break I get excited about going back and continuing to build the company. Having worked landscapi…

Hehe, someone in landscaping saying the grass is greener on the other side.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#434

Post by dhimes »

dfuhriman wrote: post #31

The problem you are experiencing is a result of the lack of systems and processes in your business. You need to make an important hire- you are missing a systematic. See, creatives like you are awesome at solving problems but hate to have structure and order because it doesn't allow you 100% freedom. But, as a result, you just have 100% creativity/problem solving- which is draining. The worst thing is, you can't even…

I'm late to the party but OP if you are still checking dfuhriman's post is the right answer. You're making a classic mistake. If your company has revenue to support employees you need to start working yourself out of the tasks that you can offload.

You start by documenting everything you do. Don't start by trying to get your documentation perfect- think of an MVP for it and improve over time. If it's boring, use a voice-to-text app (I hear Naturally Speaking is excellent now) and dictate it.

Get someone in there to do the job. Pay them well. Work on strategy and make your exit. Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#435

Post by dsacco »

johndotsun wrote: post #378
disiplus wrote: post #347

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i dont get it. i worked in factory during summer. while it gets boring, you dont have stress, and after you have finished your work you go home and dont think about your work. i probably could not work it long time, but if you are stressing in that line of work its you not the job.

Obviously it's a subjective experience. If you are able to work in those types of jobs without hating that every second you spend there is a second doing menial low pay tasks; that it is a second of your life that's been wasted on meaningless shit work that you'll never get back then good for you. A substantial amount of people aren't like you.

Honestly, I hate to say this but your perspective here sounds more like outright arrogance than anything inherent to the job. You speak about these jobs as if they're utterly beneath you and inflicting misery on your time. I'll reiterate: I have done most of the jobs you mention, and while I certainly didn't feel personally fulfilled by them or buy into the company mission, I didn't spend my time in abject misery - I made the most of it and found that my coworkers could actually be fun, even if they weren't bound for tech or a similarly intellectually exciting field.

I personally don't believe there's anything inherent to any job that makes it meaningful or not meaningful; you admit that your opinion is subjective but then provide a backhanded compliment about the parent being able to enjoy "meaningless shit work"...it doesn't sound like you've conceded that it's subjective there. With a few poignant exceptions, you can choose whether or not to derive meaning and enjoyment from a job, even if you recognize that it's not what you ultimately want to do.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#436

Post by gdubs »

Have you ever meditated before? Sometimes in these situations our minds just swirl non-stop and we spend all of our time aganozing over everything that might happened, or has happened.

Meditation can help quiet your mind, and for a lot of people it can lead to being able to appreciate what's happening right now, in this moment.

Nike founder Phil Knight said, "if all you see are problems, you're not thinking straight."

You're probably not getting enough sleep. Perhaps consider taking a day or two to really just rest. No matter how important everything seems, you can almost always take a day or two. In fact, it sounds like you pretty much can't afford not to take a day or two and rest. Really sleep.

I'm a believer in the idea that when we're rested, when our thoughts our quiet, we're able to see the right way forward. When things feel hopeless we're often just burnt, and need to rest.

Phil Jackson, the champion NBA coach wrote a lot about his mediation practice. He had plenty of times in his life were he felt the way you're describing. He said knowing how to breath and quiet his mind saved him from many sleepless nights.

Good luck and remember everything feels better after a solid 8 hours of sleep.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#437

Post by [deleted] »

throwanem wrote: post #401
unstatusthequo wrote: post #398

Agree. Suck it up, buttercup. Quitting is the only real certain way to screw up what you've built. Go find an executive coach and get yourself some help.

Flagged for arrant failure to add value to the conversation. I get that it's easy to just tear people down, and has a certain brief and nasty pleasure to it besides, but this sort of behavior helps nothing and nobody, and there is no place here for it.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#438

Post by rbistolfi »

Hi founder,

I think you are idealizing other jobs because you are suffering in your current position. I am from a development country where many would give it all in exchange of being in your shoes. I don't mean that your problem is not real or important. What I want to say is that you may be missing a lot of positive value because your perspective is narrowed by how you feel. Talk with your wife, you will feel way better, I am sure she will understand and support you. Find professional help, like a therapist. Compensate your day at work with activities that you enjoy, this can do wonders!. Hire someone, maybe not for replacing you because that is too hard, but for helping you with your tasks and having more time for doing things you enjoy. I am sure you will be able to build the strength you need for going through the acquisition an collecting the goodies of the hard work you have done over the years.

I wish you all the best

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#439

Post by xapata »

backpropaganda wrote: post #196
jaxomlotus wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's ridiculous. 1) that's an idiotic stereotype. Men and women both will react in similar ways. 2) Doesn't make a difference what "type" of person she is. They are married and she has every right to know (and voice her opinion on) if a big part of their financial future will be impacted by him feeling burned out. Hopefully she'll be supportive, but either way she deserves to know the truth.

He's not saying that only women can react in a bad way. Re-read the statement by replacing women with people and she with they.

The commenter did not write "people". They wrote, "women."

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#440

Post by xapata »

mi100hael wrote: post #430
gardnr wrote: post #414

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that humans and internet access are suboptimal. I'd just like to point out that there are beaches without humans or internet access.

Yeah, shitty ones.

And the best ones. Amazing, that.
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