Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Talent Acquisitions

marco.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 146 posts

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#61

Post by wpietri »

JeremyBanks wrote: post #21
tb303 wrote: post #12

So now that I've paid for instapaper for iPhone and iPad, I don't have to give Marco any more money. That means the only way he stays in business as the product grows (being that I am not a revenue source anymore) is by either a) figuring out an additional revenue stream from the data or b) discontinuing the apps I paid for and charging me for new ones. The same goes for sparrow. These one-time purchase apps don't ha…

Instapaper isn't entirely without other revenue. The web interface displays ads, and he offers a $1/month subscription that improves some features. (I pay for it so that I can send larger compilations to my Kindle.) http://www.instapaper.com/subscription

Yes. I subscribe not because I cared about whatever features he was offering at the time. (I think it was all about the iPad, and I've never owned one.) I did it because I wanted to make sure he was getting paid enough to keep doing it.

Glad to see that he's happy and feels like he's making enough.

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#63

Post by maybe_someday »

While I understand Marco's position, personally I'm not in that position and I don't want the pressure of running on my business so if someone is willing to offer me 7 to 8 figures plus a massive salary for my startup then I'm not going quibble.

As I once told an owner offering me equity "I'm at a stage of my life where finical stability is a welcome rest-bite so don't be offended if I duck out early."

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#64

Post by justauser »

mikeash wrote: post #58
justauser wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is the size of a diamond on a wedding ring a similar comparison?

Can you explain what you mean? I think I have an idea, but I don't know if I'm thinking what you're thinking.

Sure, it wasn't meant to be snarky. I think a lot of folks simply have vastly different measurements for success. Some think it is binary meaning either total success or total failure. Others define multiple levels of success. Tie money and success together and the resulting discussions can be quite inflammatory.

I've seen a few folks chime in here already that one of the reasons they work for themselves is that for them freedom is greater than money. Not everyone agrees with that but wouldn't some personal and business interactions benefit from a bit more transparency of goals or stated missions? If you want to shoot for the stars, financially speaking or regarding market coverage, then tell me. That's great and I applaud your enthusiasm. If you are happy just providing reasonable service and expect to make a reasonable return then tell me too. At least that will allow me to make a somewhat informed decision about possibly interacting with you. Don't make us guess as most people are terrible gamblers.

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#65

Post by Domenic_S »

petercooper wrote: post #43
joshstrange wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got a similar vibe. Also I DID support sparrow. I told absolutely every person I know with a mac that they should use sparrow. Every computer I setup at work and for friends I installed sparrow by default. I have tweeted about loving sparrow. I'm really not sure what more I could have done other than wear a sandwich board around with their logo on it. That STILL didn't stop them from being bought out...

That STILL didn't stop them from being bought out... I wonder how the poo-pooing of anything that isn't a $10m+ funding or $1bn+ market cap business on sites like HN encourages people to think "well, hey, perhaps I should go join a business like that if mine can't be."

Pooh-poohing is showing scorn or disdain.

Poo-pooing is what babies do in their diapers.

On second thought, maybe you did have it right ;)

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#66

Post by Domenic_S »

meta wrote: post #25
justauser wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it is to the point now where it is disingenuous for a company NOT to have a banner on every page stating if they are open to investments or acquihire? At least users would know there is an intention/desire/dream to head for greener pastures if given the chance. It is quite alright to disclose as a small business owner that things are slow or somethings are not quite going to plan. If you've got a userbase that…

I think almost every company would have to have such a banner. Everyone has a price. Even Marco ("and they didn’t want to pay enough"). Some prices are higher than 'the market' wants to pay right now but that doesn't mean there isn't one.

Yep. If I offered Marco $500MM with the sole condition that I could take the Instapaper source code and live stream my burning it with a blowtorch, I think we can safely say he'd take the money.

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#67

Post by petercooper »

Domenic_S wrote: post #65
petercooper wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That STILL didn't stop them from being bought out... I wonder how the poo-pooing of anything that isn't a $10m+ funding or $1bn+ market cap business on sites like HN encourages people to think "well, hey, perhaps I should go join a business like that if mine can't be."

Pooh-poohing is showing scorn or disdain. Poo-pooing is what babies do in their diapers. On second thought, maybe you did have it right ;)

Haha, thanks. I'm going to keep it as-is merely for the entertainment value now.

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#68

Post by [deleted] »

leftnode wrote: post #24
jmduke wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I obviously can't speak for Marco, but I think what I take umbrage with is when developers plan this out from the beginning -- create a product/company that drives just enough attention to ensure an acquihire. The result ends up being pretty detrimental to the community. Given the choice between: keep working on your low-to-modest traction product which isn't producing a lot of revenue and wonder how you might pay re…

Is this something you can really plan out from the beginning? How many millions of developers would love to be able to create a product that drives enough attention to ensure an acquihire? Who knows, you might be right and some developers might be able to think of an idea, build it, and market it successfully enough to get the acquihire they want (along with a big paycheck), but I suspect most just want to build a pr…

[deleted]

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#69

Post by jawr »

leftnode wrote: post #24
jmduke wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I obviously can't speak for Marco, but I think what I take umbrage with is when developers plan this out from the beginning -- create a product/company that drives just enough attention to ensure an acquihire. The result ends up being pretty detrimental to the community. Given the choice between: keep working on your low-to-modest traction product which isn't producing a lot of revenue and wonder how you might pay re…

Is this something you can really plan out from the beginning? How many millions of developers would love to be able to create a product that drives enough attention to ensure an acquihire? Who knows, you might be right and some developers might be able to think of an idea, build it, and market it successfully enough to get the acquihire they want (along with a big paycheck), but I suspect most just want to build a pr…

I completely agree, the notion of people using any software I write far exceeds the idea of getting paid for it.

Re: Talent Acquisitions

#70

Post by radley »

jazzychad wrote: post #9

Well, congrats to Marco for having a successful and sustainable business where he has the option and leverage to decide what he wants to do when these offers come knocking. Most startup/bootstrapped companies are not in that position. Most end up failing and winding up with nothing, but there are some that will end up with these talent acquisition situations. Remember, both sides (the acquirers and the acquirees) hav…

Erm, no.

Talent acquisitions happens when you have big potential to compete and are willing to cash out early instead.

Otherwise it's just giving up and getting a job.

Post reply on HN