Started a stupid company. Failed. • Hacker News Board

Re: Started a stupid company. Failed.

#111

Post by asabjorn » Wed, Nov 27, 2013, 4:08 AM UTC

zedshaw wrote: post #13

Hey, other comments are going to give you a few lines telling you to not quit, that you should hang in there, and that it'll be alright. That may be true, but to me it sounds like you're possibly not doing well enough to make any of that possible, and you probably need to find work fast. Here's what I want to do: 1. I have a little list of companies looking for employees that I'll send you. Not much just companies th…

Completely agree. In addition, since he seems to have struggled for a while, I suggest not maximizing income and instead focus on a less stressful 3-4 year plan to get back on his feet.

Life is long so there will be plenty of new chances to swing for the fences if that is what he desires. And if his 3-4 year plan is executed ahead of schedule plans can always be changed.

Re: Started a stupid company. Failed.

#112

Post by termain » Wed, Nov 27, 2013, 4:09 AM UTC

kibibu wrote: post #78

singular wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have for a while thought of you as (total honesty here) a bullying cock (though talented at what you do), but this comment which is sincere, genuine and offered to someone for whom this could be greatly helpful has made me seriously reconsider. Kudos.

It strikes me that Zed has been on the receiving end of way more bullying than he has given out (including being called a cock by you in this very post)

"I thought of you as" is not the same thing as "you are a".

Re: Started a stupid company. Failed.

#113

Post by reinder » Wed, Nov 27, 2013, 4:09 AM UTC

Hang in there! It's gonna be okay. If you ever need a listening ear, now or in the future, feel free to email me and we'll call. Also, eat well, sleep well, get some fresh air & walks and spend time with the family. Coping with difficult times is easier that way.

Re: Started a stupid company. Failed.

#114

Post by jroseattle » Wed, Nov 27, 2013, 4:10 AM UTC

l0c0b0x wrote: post #94

l0c0b0x wrote: post #90

> Pretty sure I am the opposite of everyone here. I am one like you with a wife and 3 Kids, that at one point couldn't afford bills/payments (exactly during this holiday season), Dec/January and February were the coldest and weakest I have ever felt as a man. Look at your wife and kids for an extremely good amount of energy and inspiration to go on and fight for them. During these tough times, nothing comes better th…

...and of course, if you're in Washington State ( l o c o b o x @ that google domain for email ) :)

Same here -- wife, 2 kids, house and in Seattle. More than happy to try to help a colleague.

Re: Started a stupid company. Failed.

#115

Post by hbags » Wed, Nov 27, 2013, 4:12 AM UTC

kibibu wrote: post #78

singular wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have for a while thought of you as (total honesty here) a bullying cock (though talented at what you do), but this comment which is sincere, genuine and offered to someone for whom this could be greatly helpful has made me seriously reconsider. Kudos.

It strikes me that Zed has been on the receiving end of way more bullying than he has given out (including being called a cock by you in this very post)

Speaking of cocks, the technical leadership at two well-funded startups systematically harassed Zed by adding him to github repos that contained nothing but ASCII cocks. I know this because they bragged about it openly, thinking it hilarious.

Zed takes a lot of abuse for little reason.

I debated naming the companies here, but they appear to be failing anyway. Probably because they hired the sort of people who find harassment hilarious.

edit: removed oblique reference to one of the companies. I don't feel like giving those firms any publicity, even if it's bad publicity.

Re: Started a stupid company. Failed.

#116

Post by mbesto » Wed, Nov 27, 2013, 4:12 AM UTC

I feel you man. I know very few "successful" people who haven't gone through what you're going through right now (to varying degrees). You're not alone - http://www.techdisruptive.com/2013/10/29/common-themes-despa...

Re: Started a stupid company. Failed.

#117

Post by d4vlx » Wed, Nov 27, 2013, 4:16 AM UTC

zedshaw wrote: post #13

Hey, other comments are going to give you a few lines telling you to not quit, that you should hang in there, and that it'll be alright. That may be true, but to me it sounds like you're possibly not doing well enough to make any of that possible, and you probably need to find work fast. Here's what I want to do: 1. I have a little list of companies looking for employees that I'll send you. Not much just companies th…

It's posts like this that make me love HN :')

Re: Started a stupid company. Failed.

#118

Post by 31reasons » Wed, Nov 27, 2013, 4:17 AM UTC

marshray wrote: post #106

31reasons wrote: post #98

I don't care if I get down voted. But if a person already has 3 kids and another on the way, why would you spend all your savings on a startup ? even if you run out of savings, why would you max out your credit ? There is something called calculated risk.

Sometimes I think I envy people who can think like you do. But I find people who know what it means to be irrational are far more interesting.

Frankly there are many ways you can be irrational. Your thoughts, your actions, your creations. But don't do that at the expense of your family. If you want to take too much risk, don't start a family, heck you can even stop at 1 kid to manage risk.

Re: Started a stupid company. Failed.

#119

Post by huherto » Wed, Nov 27, 2013, 4:17 AM UTC

Somehow we tend to think that all it takes is hard work. But there are many aspects of building a successful business. Sometimes we can risk a little too much. Not everybody makes it, not every body has the needed support, not everybody has the tolerance to risk. It is not only about making your dreams happen, you also need to know when to fold.

I wish you the best. The best advice I can give you is to hang in there with your life. Strengthen your relationships, life may suck now, but it will get better, just hang in there, one day at a time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stockdale

Re: Started a stupid company. Failed.

#120

Post by themanthatfell » Wed, Nov 27, 2013, 4:19 AM UTC

My wife cried reading all of your comments. I guess we were looking for some sign that someone somewhere is pulling for us. During the first hour this post was up I hovered over the delete more than once. It doesn't seem right to bring an entire ecosystem of ambitious and wonderful people a story of failure. I guess I learned that hitting delete would be worse. Thank you from the 5.3 of us.