Ask HN: How to show business co-founders that I'm actually working hard • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How to show business co-founders that I'm actually working hard

#11

Post by chrisbennet » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 1:57 AM UTC

This seems like a problem that won't get better as time goes forward and needs to be fixed before you invest more of your life in it.

I would have a face to face with your partners and ask them if they are actually dissatisfied with your progress or is it just a general frustration with business progress that is reflected in a sort of "are there yet?" behavior.

Then again, they may just want you around until they can find someone who they think can do what they want.

Re: Ask HN: How to show business co-founders that I'm actually working hard

#12

Post by enzoavigo » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 10:05 AM UTC

If the problem is that their time can be measurable in term of ROI (i.e. sales) then you should definitely try to do the same with your tasks. Implementing a A/B test ? --> Show lead improvment On-Page optimization ? --> Show CRO evolution Changing design, implementing new feature ? --> show impact on activation, retention. And so on. If you work very hard you can also share a road map to share all the things you tick each week. In your case it seems you also have more of a human issue. I think to this point you need to prove them how much money you can bring to the company. I wouldnt go for a discussion "just to have a discussion" with them. Its far better if you can prove your added value. good luck !

Re: Ask HN: How to show business co-founders that I'm actually working hard

#13

Post by bensons » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 10:13 AM UTC

Speak out loud what you are doing, regardless if its a failure or success.

Re: Ask HN: How to show business co-founders that I'm actually working hard

#14

Post by mathattack » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 11:34 AM UTC

stuckFounder wrote: post #9

mathattack wrote: post #8

IMHO.... You are not being treated and trusted as a co-founder, you're being treated and trusted as a hired CTO. You can choose to accept this, or not. If you're going to accept it, you have to be the one to close the gap. In situation like this, you have to make the time to show plans that demonstrate what you're doing, and the time required for each. It doesn't need to be a fancy planning tool - just a Google sheet…

We have alot of tools to show off my progress (I've mentioned elsewhere in the thread), none of it seems to resonate. Basically facts don't resonate, and this seems like a "soft" skill issue. Because of our baby, i'm often up at crazy hours, the guys joke regularly about my 4am Slack comments on the business and that I must not sleep at all. This makes it even more baffling that my commitment is being questioned.

Why stay?

Re: Ask HN: How to show business co-founders that I'm actually working hard

#15

Post by al2o3cr » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 12:36 PM UTC

As stated elsewhere in this thread, your co-founders seem decidedly immune to the sort of data that would typically demonstrate "all-in". So here's my advice: stop guessing what those yoyos want. Get them into a meeting and ask them flat-out: "what would satisfy you on this point?" If they can't come up with anything or give you a bullshit answer, QUIT ON THE SPOT.

A month later, if you've provided whatever they said would satisfy them and they're STILL whining - see previous action.

You shouldn't put up with "I'm mad and I'm not going to tell you why" in business relationships any more than you should in personal relationships.

Also, keep in mind that you may walk out of that initial meeting without a job. The sort of nasty assclowns that your co-founders sound like don't typically appreciate being directly challenged.

Re: Ask HN: How to show business co-founders that I'm actually working hard

#16

Post by stuckFounder » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 4:33 PM UTC

mathattack wrote: post #14

stuckFounder wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We have alot of tools to show off my progress (I've mentioned elsewhere in the thread), none of it seems to resonate. Basically facts don't resonate, and this seems like a "soft" skill issue. Because of our baby, i'm often up at crazy hours, the guys joke regularly about my 4am Slack comments on the business and that I must not sleep at all. This makes it even more baffling that my commitment is being questioned.

Why stay?

I think its a great business opportunity. Happy to put up with endless BS if it makes alot of money.

Re: Ask HN: How to show business co-founders that I'm actually working hard

#17

Post by mathattack » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 6:40 PM UTC

stuckFounder wrote: post #16

mathattack wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why stay?

I think its a great business opportunity. Happy to put up with endless BS if it makes alot of money.

For better or worse this sets you up for a lot of pain over life. If it's all about putting up with BS to make money, go work for an investment bank, hedge fund or High Frequency Trading firm. :-)