Thanks HN: Goodbye, Golden Handcuffs • Hacker News Board

Re: Thanks HN: Goodbye, Golden Handcuffs

#101

Post by krschultz » Thu, Dec 02, 2010, 3:05 PM UTC

huffer wrote: post #72

StavrosK wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did you afford food/rent if you made no money?

I second that! I'm amazed by the fact that half the time people seem to disregard completely this fundamental obstacle in doing a startup: you need to have at least the basics covered, like food and a roof above your head. You shouldn't live like a king but even the modest living costs. Is it only people in US who think that? I don't think so, US is not particularly known for social security and such -- maybe this co…

You have to radically reduce your expenses if that is the case.

Are you tracking your monthly expenses? I assume rent is the highest, can you take in a room mate? Move into a smaller place? Sell your car and buy a beater?

I took 3 months off (not for a startup, I went skiing the whole time) for <$4,000. I can save that up in 3 months of working, but I drive a 10 year old car and rent a small apartment while most of the guys I work with are driving $30,000 cars and living in big places. But the car doesn't matter to me nearly as much as the freedom to take time off.

Re: Thanks HN: Goodbye, Golden Handcuffs

#102

Post by Sukotto » Thu, Dec 02, 2010, 3:06 PM UTC

roel_v wrote: post #83

toast76 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow. The Thanksgiving parade was last week Mr. Raincloud. Here's some positive thoughts for you! - Running your own business is quite simply the most rewarding thing you can ever do (professionally at least). - Succeed or fail, you'll come out of it better off than you started. - Don't measure your success by whether TechCrunch writes about you. Measure it by being proud of what you achieve. - Even your biggest failu…

"Succeed or fail, you'll come out of it better off than you started." About half of the comments I read so far have said something to this effect so far, there's only so much a man can take before he needs to speak up ;) : this is bullshit. I know many (as in, 10+) people who started a company and got utterly fucked for the next decade, maybe two, because of its failure; and all they have to show for it is a period o…

  I know many (as in, 10+) people who started a company and 
  got utterly fucked for the next decade, maybe two, 
  because of its failure; and all they have to show for it 
  is a period on their CV that they have to make excuses 
  for at any interview they go to.

Why make excuses? Talking about that experience opens the door to discussing just how well suited you are for the job you're interviewing for.

Q: I see on your resume you spent ten years at example.com which does not seem to exist any more. Tell me about that.

A: Starting up example.com was an amazing experience. After ___ years at ______ company I decided that I really wanted to try starting and running my own company. [Overview of the main ideas and pivots of the various things he tried].

Unfortunately I learned that I just not strong at some critical business skills like ______ and _____ though I did hone my ______ and _____ skillset [where these two are relevant to the job you're interviewing for].

Re: Thanks HN: Goodbye, Golden Handcuffs

#103

Post by roc » Thu, Dec 02, 2010, 3:16 PM UTC

StavrosK wrote: post #65

thenbrent wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's only sustainable if it's making you money. It's always good, even when it's bad.

It depends on your definition of good, then... It's certainly enjoyable, but if you lost years of your life and have nothing to show for it, I wouldn't consider it a tremendous success. That said, there's nothing I'd want to do more than having a startup.

> "if you lost years of your life and have nothing to show for it"

That's kinda how I feel about corporate gigs. You have stuff to show for it, but there comes a time when you realize most stuff doesn't really have lasting value.

And to those who suffer a bad gig to have money to do the things they really love: well, it's funny how little money most of those things really require.

Re: Thanks HN: Goodbye, Golden Handcuffs

#104

Post by yesno » Thu, Dec 02, 2010, 3:19 PM UTC

Sukotto wrote: post #102

roel_v wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Succeed or fail, you'll come out of it better off than you started." About half of the comments I read so far have said something to this effect so far, there's only so much a man can take before he needs to speak up ;) : this is bullshit. I know many (as in, 10+) people who started a company and got utterly fucked for the next decade, maybe two, because of its failure; and all they have to show for it is a period o…

I know many (as in, 10+) people who started a company and got utterly fucked for the next decade, maybe two, because of its failure; and all they have to show for it is a period on their CV that they have to make excuses for at any interview they go to. Why make excuses? Talking about that experience opens the door to discussing just how well suited you are for the job you're interviewing for. Q: I see on your resume…

Could backfire you. There's no guarantee that this is a home-run to get a job. Keep that in mind that the world is not "ideal".

Re: Thanks HN: Goodbye, Golden Handcuffs

#105

Post by efsavage » Thu, Dec 02, 2010, 3:38 PM UTC

"the best example you can set for your kids ... is to pursue your dreams, not an income"

My father did this, in several ways, and failed massively at all of them, and yet for reasons I can't really articulate I 100% agree with this.

Re: Thanks HN: Goodbye, Golden Handcuffs

#106

Post by bobf » Thu, Dec 02, 2010, 4:36 PM UTC

dstein wrote: post #58

Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year - and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade. -Tony Robbins

The same thing is true on smaller scales as well, for example: 1 day versus 10.

Re: Thanks HN: Goodbye, Golden Handcuffs

#107

Post by eande » Thu, Dec 02, 2010, 5:26 PM UTC

When I kicked off my startup in Jan 2010 I thought in 6 months the bootstrap period will come to an end. Now 12 months into it and still some more time needed. My advice check on the six month bootstrap timing you plan, might be a little short.

Re: Thanks HN: Goodbye, Golden Handcuffs

#108

Post by Xuzz » Thu, Dec 02, 2010, 6:19 PM UTC

mtholking wrote: post #82

Xuzz wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then again, no matter how much time you give yourself, you will find a way to fill it up. Maybe an unrealistic goal is for the best: it might increase productivity, even if it slips.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson%27s_Law

Thanks. I forgot the name when posting this.

Re: Thanks HN: Goodbye, Golden Handcuffs

#109

Post by edash » Thu, Dec 02, 2010, 6:21 PM UTC

jriley wrote: post #11

dorkitude wrote: post #9

Congrats :) If you're in SF, let me know We have a sweet co-working space for hackers with all of the three C's: coffee, camaraderie, and a fast connection

Appreciate it. I'm actually in Austin though, and eager to meet some like-minded folks. I'll be checking out the local bootstrap chapter to start.

I'm in Austin, have a company that's tiny but growing and have a few friends doing startups. I'd love to help any way I can.

Email me! It's in my profile...

Re: Thanks HN: Goodbye, Golden Handcuffs

#110

Post by toast76 » Thu, Dec 02, 2010, 9:17 PM UTC

roel_v wrote: post #83

toast76 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow. The Thanksgiving parade was last week Mr. Raincloud. Here's some positive thoughts for you! - Running your own business is quite simply the most rewarding thing you can ever do (professionally at least). - Succeed or fail, you'll come out of it better off than you started. - Don't measure your success by whether TechCrunch writes about you. Measure it by being proud of what you achieve. - Even your biggest failu…

"Succeed or fail, you'll come out of it better off than you started." About half of the comments I read so far have said something to this effect so far, there's only so much a man can take before he needs to speak up ;) : this is bullshit. I know many (as in, 10+) people who started a company and got utterly fucked for the next decade, maybe two, because of its failure; and all they have to show for it is a period o…

The point of my comment was not to say, "hey everything's going to be great! Throw your money away, you CAN'T lose"

The point was to counter the negativity of the GP with some positive thoughts.

Being positive doesn't mean to ignore risks, or to turn a blind eye to consequences, it means starting off with the belief that you can succeed.