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I'll need a new challenge in a few years, but for now it's nice to be in a routine and be a critical member of a kick-ass team.
I spent 2.5 years at a startup and did some of that time working purely for equity. I'm not sure if I count as a "founder", as it was unclear where the founder/employee distinction was, and I'd say that I was probably Employee #1 or #2 rather than "a founder". The truth? Ugh. The pitch is that, even if you fail, you'll learn a ton and be slotted into a much more senior role in your next job. The reality? Yes, you do…
Wow, this basically describes the frustrations I had with my previous job to the letter. While working there as an engineer, I also founded a successful community service non-profit on the side. Even though it was nothing like founding a "real" company, it still gave me 2.5 years of really solid experience with building, managing and leading teams of diverse people (among lots of other things). We became really successful in our space. It was great.
The problem? While working on the non-profit, I first caught up to and then surpassed my boss at my day job in management and leadership ability. He was my senior, yet I would see him make mistake after mistake, and I'd think, "wow, I made that mistake like, 3 years ago." I tried to help but he wasn't interested - he is very much the "do my job during the day and then go home, drink some beer and watch sports" type of guy. No drive for self-improvement, even when it became obvious that he was severely lacking. I ended up building a lot of contempt for him, and when my frustrations became too much, I left.
2002: Started a small business. 2008: Pivoted to a somewhat more scalable and clearly defined small business. 2011: Started a true startup. 2013: Realized I'd started the wrong startup. Got a job at somebody else's growth stage startup. ~2018: Will start another startup. But this time I'll have a hell of a lot more understanding, expertise, connections, and
What's the difference? Truly curious. The singular focus?
Failed, consulting, startup, failed, consulting, success, failed, job, job, startup, sold, job.
This is a really interesting path. Could you supply more info for each phase? Like a sentence or two and the maybe the time you spent on each?
I went to work for Facebook then Dropbox, and now I'm on my second startup. We just pivoted, so it sort of feels like the third. I've worked at a few different kinds of companies, and there are good and bad aspects of each kind of company, each stage of development.
I spent 2.5 years at a startup and did some of that time working purely for equity. I'm not sure if I count as a "founder", as it was unclear where the founder/employee distinction was, and I'd say that I was probably Employee #1 or #2 rather than "a founder". The truth? Ugh. The pitch is that, even if you fail, you'll learn a ton and be slotted into a much more senior role in your next job. The reality? Yes, you do…
Thanks so much for taking the time to write this.
I spent 2.5 years at a startup and did some of that time working purely for equity. I'm not sure if I count as a "founder", as it was unclear where the founder/employee distinction was, and I'd say that I was probably Employee #1 or #2 rather than "a founder". The truth? Ugh. The pitch is that, even if you fail, you'll learn a ton and be slotted into a much more senior role in your next job. The reality? Yes, you do…
On the other hand, if the website is taken down and you cannot show what you did, your position would be much weaker.
I have failed in the year 2011 after 7 long years at my bootstrapped company. My business partner didn't want me around, I was pretty emotional after so many years, I felt it's time to accept fate n move forward.
Broke up with my gf, I quit my company(gave my 67% to partner if he split debt). So I pretty much walked out with million dollars debt and nothing on hand, life was tough.
I started again,my small business was ok, my burn rate was low,I was ramen profitable ...burning $2000 per month but all customers money, hired employees fired lazy ones.
I just couldn't cope with debt sold my house, my car, my dads house , my aunts house, fortunately n unfortunately I am from india, here people threaten with dire consequences and people give all their life earnings for loved ones. So all the assests cleared about 500k usd dollars.
I earned 200k usd doing consulting, mobile apps, web apps, sentiment analysis ,paid 60k usd salaries. Now I have another 200,000 usd to clear on track to clear it but ....something beautiful happened , I married my gf after 3 years of break, my ex-business partner wants to do business with me again since he saw how I came out of rat hole,...
.I just have one thing to say "don't give up and hang in there with logic and common sense"
I feel I will succeed financially in 2015 , Our product is coming beautifully...then perhaps I can write a book...till then I have midnight oil to burn..