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Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

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Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#411

Post by gardnr »

bhargav wrote: post #393
webwright wrote: post #272

(source: I've twice left my own companies- both companies continued to grow and prosper after I left). Personally, I'd suck it up and get the sale done, working hard to make the price as front-loaded as possible. Depending on the buyers appetite for you to keep working there you could: A) Suggest that you're excited to stay with the business, but if they feel there'd be too many chefs in the kitchen and that you shou…

Please do not advise people who are clearly depressed to take mushrooms. Always remember that whats an elixir for may be poison for others. Yes, mushrooms do help anxieties BUT it is also known that if you are not in a good mental state, you can have bad trip and a bad trip... is not going to be relieving any anxiety, it will make it worse. That said, maybe Microdosing is okay. I agree with all of your other points b…

There are studies that show a sub-recreational dose is beneficial for depression and for chronic headaches. I haven't met a person yet that suffers from chronic headaches that is adverse to trying a low dosage.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#412

Post by dfuhriman »

brango wrote: post #384
karthikb wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would be interested in reading this as well...I've faced (and face) many of the same issues myself.

Read the E-myth Revisited.

This is also good advice and a good book.

What I add to this aspect of innovation is a differentiation between standardizable work and original work. OP's approach to creating systems are different for each.

The other thing I define is the roles in innovation; creatives, systematics, and bureaucrats. The problem I see with OP is that creatives usually cannot implement the systemization that is required for the "franchise prototypes", let alone manage the system.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#413

Post by dfuhriman »

ryanmarsh wrote: post #53
dfuhriman wrote: post #31

The problem you are experiencing is a result of the lack of systems and processes in your business. You need to make an important hire- you are missing a systematic. See, creatives like you are awesome at solving problems but hate to have structure and order because it doesn't allow you 100% freedom. But, as a result, you just have 100% creativity/problem solving- which is draining. The worst thing is, you can't even…

Reminds me of the e myth

Replied in another comment, but posting here to reply to your comment too.

This is also good advice and a good book.

What I add to this aspect of innovation is a differentiation between standardizable work and original work. OP's approach to creating systems are different for each.

The other thing I define is the roles in innovation; creatives, systematics, and bureaucrats. The problem I see with OP is that creatives usually cannot implement the systemization that is required for the "franchise prototypes", let alone manage the system.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#414

Post by gardnr »

LeifCarrotson wrote: post #71
chatmasta wrote: post #16

Take a vacation, preferably to a beach. Use it to learn what processes at your company are dependent on you. Then when you get back, start documenting and delegating every process until you are no longer a critical dependency. Then take another, longer vacation. Sounds like you need one.

Beaches aren't for everyone. In burnout situations, I find going backpacking (mountains/hiking, canoeing in the Canadian wilderness) to be even more relaxing than a beach. None of these annoying humans that seem to be always present on beaches and at workplaces. And also none of the attention-sucking internet access.

I agree that humans and internet access are suboptimal. I'd just like to point out that there are beaches without humans or internet access.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#415

Post by heimatau »

For what it's worth, my advice would be to get the sale done with conditions that you DON'T have to work for 2-5 years.

If you have enough money to take a Sabbatical, then do it, 3 months or 6 months. I know many (mostly in academic field) that tend to 'find themselves' when they do these every 10 years or so.

You sound like you're suffering from burnout. When is the last time you took an extended rest? I'd strongly advise that. Best of luck to you and I hope this reaches you! :)

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#416

Post by gallerdude »

voidz wrote: post #343
gallerdude wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being able to make choices, determine the best path of action, and (if you work hard enough) make something great. Right now the best things I make are balloons (but I do have some fun side-projects).

I have to say it does sound very Zen, balloon making. In life, I have found that the trick is not about how to keep the mind busy, but about how, how often, and when to get it at ease.

It's Zen until someone walks in asking for a 40 balloon set, while there are 4 people in line for the register still.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#417

Post by masukomi »

Once upon a time i was pretty similarly stressed about my situation. I had a good job, and worked with good people, but was just completely burnt out. Based on my personal experience i believe that you will end up destroying yourself, the people you love, and possibly harming your company, with this all consuming depression.

Get out.

For me i spent a month riding my motorcycle across the country. Came back, worked for a little while met a fantastic woman, then quit and spent four months riding our motorcycles from Boston to the bottom of South America. Came back, and started working again. Of course, 6 years later i'm daydreaming about doing it all over again. ;)

When i was young I was the child of an artist. We were pretty effing poor. But, we had food. We had a roof over our heads, and every day my mother worked doing something she loved. We were happy. Money isn't everything.

Now, you've got the compounding aspect of the acquisition and not wanting to screw over your friends/coworkers just because you're depressed as all get-out. You are absolutely wrong that you can't offload your work to someone else (as you noted in the comments). You probably can't hand it over today, but you can start training someone else, and if you're like most people who think that then you're probably overestimating your capabilities and underestimating those of the people around you.

I think you need to get out. Even if you decide to stay, you absolutely need to start offloading your stuff.

Also. talk to your wife more about this, and maybe talk to a psychiatrist. Many of us have aversions to them but they have tools they can offer you to help you work through the more difficult moments until you can get yourself out of this situation in a way that works for you.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#418

Post by hitekker »

tigershark wrote: post #260
hitekker wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Excellent advice, though I must say that > If you died in a car crash today, the company would find a way to continue. might not be the most comfortable way to describe a person's importance when they're feeling down. I would instead say "if you quit today suddenly with no warning,".

It's a common metaphor. There is also a risk measure explicitly based on this concept: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_factor But I guess that there are not that many buses there in US so a car crash may be more appropriate.

Oh, it is technically correct. The issue is that when comforting the depressed, violent or overly negative imagery may distract from the point being made.

The metaphor is perfectly unnoticeable in everyday contexts, but in his state, careless edges of arguments must feel awfully pointy.

I learned that the hard way when trying to support a friend down on his luck.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#419

Post by osmala »

Tim Ferris: Four Hour Workweek . Eliminate, Automate, Delegate...

It can give you ideas on how to delegate more.

Secondly figure out how to retain developers. If it causes you stress and hiring is real expense then you should invest in fixing it. Make developer work environment as good as possible and maybe pay slightly above market pay.Your job is to fix the environment to reduce turn over to compensate the boring product with other factors they value.

Re: Ask HN: I don't want to be a founder anymore

#420

Post by patorjk »

throwanem wrote: post #383

I don't know directly from any of this, because I am an unlettered redneck with air-cooled teeth and a net worth in the middle four figures. But if I had a serious prospect of ending up with genuine fuck-you money, and all I had to do to get it was keep doing what I was already doing and gut it out for a few more years, then that is precisely what I would do, to the best of my ability. I get that you're suffering, an…

You're right about those jobs being physically wearing and not secure. My brother works at Target and lost 100 pounds over the course of a year. He wasn't trying to lose weight, it just happened because he was on his feet all day running around and because of other physical demands of the job. He does not seem stress free and it is not a job he likes, nor does it pay well. I would definitely never want his job.
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