Live data from Hacker News

What frustrates me the most as an entrepreneur

joshliu.co

21–30 of 58 posts

Re: What frustrates me the most as an entrepreneur

#21
It's the nature of the beast, you're a startup ... you can't pay people what they would make on the open market ... People who wind up working for you, either believe in you and/or your idea.

So embrace that constraint.

I'm kind of surprised that you're looking for a UX guy full time, Is that really necessary in your estimation? Don't you think you'd do better with a freelancer billing out hourly?

Re: What frustrates me the most as an entrepreneur

#22
post #6

What frustrates me the most about your blog is the fact that when I want to know what the heck Minutebox is, the link doesn't really work.

It also breaks my back button (Chrome), which drives me crazy.

thanks for reporting it. did not notice that issue. has reported it as a bug.

Re: What frustrates me the most as an entrepreneur

#23

OP: You're one of the good ones, as far as I can tell. Please stay in the game. The real issue, I think, is that your job forces you to motivate people to take risks on your behalf and it feels like you're over-promising. A lot of success in business relies on motivating people (employees, clients, users) to help you succeed by promising what you'll be able to deliver if everything goes right... selling a vision, in…

Well, it's completely possible to setup a company where the real investors of the company - the shareholders - actually are the founders and early employees. Simply have them work for equity. There are companies setup like this. It's fairly common for companies founded by people who have already made their money (as finance people, executives, previous entrepreneurs or early startup employees) to be self-funded. The…

Thanks. I know it works as you said. But, to some people who do not have enough money to cover the rent,expenses or mortgage, shares/options are just not immediate enough.

I have met a lot of talents in this situation. That is why I wish I could retain them better. It is important to give the team member a peace of mind, right? Otherwise, they need to worry about money all the time, and it probably is not good for the productivity.

Re: What frustrates me the most as an entrepreneur

#24

OP: You're one of the good ones, as far as I can tell. Please stay in the game. The real issue, I think, is that your job forces you to motivate people to take risks on your behalf and it feels like you're over-promising. A lot of success in business relies on motivating people (employees, clients, users) to help you succeed by promising what you'll be able to deliver if everything goes right... selling a vision, in…

You raise an interesting point. As difficult as it is continuing to be to hire top technical talent in the Valley, I wonder if some talented people might have sufficient leverage, particularly in a situation like this one where the employer is a small, underfunded startup, to get themselves options on preferred stock rather than common stock.

I'm sure that raises a host of complications vis-a-vis the cap table etc., but it nonetheless seems an intriguing possibility.

Re: What frustrates me the most as an entrepreneur

#25

It's the nature of the beast, you're a startup ... you can't pay people what they would make on the open market ... People who wind up working for you, either believe in you and/or your idea. So embrace that constraint. I'm kind of surprised that you're looking for a UX guy full time, Is that really necessary in your estimation? Don't you think you'd do better with a freelancer billing out hourly?

[deleted]

Re: What frustrates me the most as an entrepreneur

#26

It's the nature of the beast, you're a startup ... you can't pay people what they would make on the open market ... People who wind up working for you, either believe in you and/or your idea. So embrace that constraint. I'm kind of surprised that you're looking for a UX guy full time, Is that really necessary in your estimation? Don't you think you'd do better with a freelancer billing out hourly?

No no, not looking for a UX guy full time at all. We want him as a contractor, to have him 1-2 days a week. But, the rate he is charging other people is too high to us. He deserves that rate though. I know he would comprise and charge us a discounted rate, but I just feel a little bit bad that I could not pay a fair rate for him, and for other team members who have worked so hard for MinuteBox

Re: What frustrates me the most as an entrepreneur

#27

I'm conflicted about this post. I think your expressions are heartfelt, but it sounds like you've been window shopping when you don't have the funds to buy. If you knew you didn't have the money to fairly pay for this designer's services, why ask? To the more cynical among us, this post may seem like a manipulative way to indirectly guilt-trip this guy into working for you far below his asking rate. Look, you know ho…

I'm sad to learn that I'm among the more cynical - jk. But, is it possible to write this while not considering how it's going to influence the prospective hire? I don't think so.

Re: What frustrates me the most as an entrepreneur

#28

Promises are meaningless in business. This great UX guy shouldn't take your low pay for a second. He's probably a great UX guy because he's focused on UX and not investing. He needs to be paid well or he won't be able to focus on UX 110% Remember, not being an investor if your business doesn't pan out it's much harder on him than a guy who has a portfolio to fall back on. He'll also likely resent you. This resentment…

I liked what you said. Yes, I want him to focus on UX 110%, and not worry too much on the money. But, the fair rate to him is too high to us. That is the struggle. I am sure we will find a fee we are both fine with. But, I just wish that I could pay him, or anyone in the team, the rate reflecting their value. That is it. :)

Re: What frustrates me the most as an entrepreneur

#29

When I talk about shares/options, I am serious. I am not trying to con you to be a low-paid slave. I want to share our prosperity and success with you when the time comes. I never take the offer of equity as a con. I see it for what it is: a high-risk investment because the founder does not have enough capital to pay. The main point here is that when the time comes should really be if the time comes . If you are a fo…

I think you make a fair point. Yes, that is true. It is a high-risk investment for other employees, and different people can take different level of risks.

It would not be fair to ask a late thirty person to take the same risk as a early twenty person. People have different financial concerns in different stage of lives.

I think a good founder need to consider that. It is just not right to ask everyone takes the same risk as the founders do.

Re: What frustrates me the most as an entrepreneur

#30

When I talk about shares/options, I am serious. I am not trying to con you to be a low-paid slave. I want to share our prosperity and success with you when the time comes. I never take the offer of equity as a con. I see it for what it is: a high-risk investment because the founder does not have enough capital to pay. The main point here is that when the time comes should really be if the time comes . If you are a fo…

The potentially employee should definitely be thinking "if the time comes". But I think a founder should probably be thinking "when the time comes" - being certain of eventual success is a powerful contributor to succeeding so long as it doesn't make you unrealistc about the work required to do so.
Post reply on HN