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Thanks HN: You helped save a company that now helps thousands make a living

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Re: Thanks HN: You helped save a company that now helps thousands make a living

#71

Post by quickthrower2 »

dvt wrote: post #64
solidasparagus wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> still one of the most reliable ways of [...] becoming financially independent (if not outright wealthy) There's just no way this is true. For people with the skills needed by SV startups, working at one of the startups is almost certainly financially worse than using those skills at a large company.

I was specifically talking about founders (but even early stage engineers can do extremely well if the startup takes off). The upside is much higher doing your own thing rather than working at BigCorp (the two aren't even remotely comparable, but neither is the risk). Not to mention the end goals/QOL of working on what you want, commanding your own ship, being financially independent, etc. Virtually all self-made mil…

You can also get to millions by investing while working a regular job

Re: Thanks HN: You helped save a company that now helps thousands make a living

#72

Post by Kranar »

solidasparagus wrote: post #58
dvt wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But I can't help but think about the 9 founders of other companies that had the same resolve in the same situation, but things did not work out so well. Everyone on HN knows that the startup life is, in many ways, a lottery. But that doesn't mean it's not still one of the most reliable ways of exercising self-determination, working on something you're truly passionate about, taking full responsibility for your fate…

> still one of the most reliable ways of [...] becoming financially independent (if not outright wealthy) There's just no way this is true. For people with the skills needed by SV startups, working at one of the startups is almost certainly financially worse than using those skills at a large company.

The comment said "one of the most reliable ways", not the only reliable way. Furthermore the two are not mutually exclusive. I worked at Microsoft and Google before starting my own company, mostly as a way to pay off student debt. A few of my co-workers at Google also left to start their own companies as well. There's no reason why you can't put in a couple of years at a large company to make some early cash, then leave to start your own company.

If it fails you can almost certainly go back to working at a big company and heck even try again later on in life.

Re: Thanks HN: You helped save a company that now helps thousands make a living

#73

Post by blizkreeg »

dumbfounder wrote: post #41

I have mixed feelings about this story. I applaud your resolve, and you have certainly had a tremendous amount of success that should be celebrated! But I can't help but think about the 9 founders of other companies that had the same resolve in the same situation, but things did not work out so well. All you other people thinking about going for broke need to be ready to hit bottom and build yourself back up afterwar…

What is it with every post on HN having an almost 50/50 split along the cynical line.

Of course 9/10 founders are going to fail, some people have more privilege to take risks, and people with families have to take measured risks.

What's the point? Should people not try, keep crying about it, keep complaining that it's easy to say this when you have privilege, keep looking at the negative side? We all recognize life's a lottery and the odds are stacked in favor of some and not others. So?

Re: Thanks HN: You helped save a company that now helps thousands make a living

#74

Post by darepublic »

pembrook wrote: post #57
darepublic wrote: post #40

On an ironic note, your company is part of a trend that threatens the livelihood of devs everywhere

Fighting to keep the world complicated and inefficient, so that you can keep the same job forever and never have to learn anything new, is not looked upon favorably by history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite When we automate the boring stuff, we are free to work on harder and more important problems. This is the arc of progress, and it's in the interest of the greater good.

Well, I didn't say to keep the world complicated and inefficient, I just thought it was funny to write a thank you to devs for saving their company when by some considerations their company could potentially hurt the employability of certain devs. But yeah, I am not trying to be a luddite, (not that I care about how history would judge me)

Re: Thanks HN: You helped save a company that now helps thousands make a living

#75

Post by dumbfounder »

blizkreeg wrote: post #73
dumbfounder wrote: post #41

I have mixed feelings about this story. I applaud your resolve, and you have certainly had a tremendous amount of success that should be celebrated! But I can't help but think about the 9 founders of other companies that had the same resolve in the same situation, but things did not work out so well. All you other people thinking about going for broke need to be ready to hit bottom and build yourself back up afterwar…

What is it with every post on HN having an almost 50/50 split along the cynical line. Of course 9/10 founders are going to fail, some people have more privilege to take risks, and people with families have to take measured risks. What's the point? Should people not try, keep crying about it, keep complaining that it's easy to say this when you have privilege, keep looking at the negative side? We all recognize life's…

I am not cynical, I am a 3 time founder and looking to start another company. I am the opposite of cynical. It is simply cautionary advice. I think we have a tendency to glorify startup life and I think people should be grounded in reality when making massive decisions like this.

Re: Thanks HN: You helped save a company that now helps thousands make a living

#76

Post by warent »

dumbfounder wrote: post #41

I have mixed feelings about this story. I applaud your resolve, and you have certainly had a tremendous amount of success that should be celebrated! But I can't help but think about the 9 founders of other companies that had the same resolve in the same situation, but things did not work out so well. All you other people thinking about going for broke need to be ready to hit bottom and build yourself back up afterwar…

I think a large portion of entrepreneurs and founders don't do it because it's a get-rich-quick scheme or a normal path to retirement. It's because it's in their (our?) nature.

My stakes are much, much smaller, so maybe this experience is very particular to me, but I'm fortunate to have bootstrapped a growing SaaS business that is now closing in on USD$2000 MRR. Before this, I have a trail of hair-brained failures.

The sense of accomplishment hasn't changed with the (modest) business success. I've felt accomplished the first day I started trying and failing. This is just our nature. Seeing material success from it only icing on the cake.

Re: Thanks HN: You helped save a company that now helps thousands make a living

#77

Post by blizkreeg »

dumbfounder wrote: post #75
blizkreeg wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is it with every post on HN having an almost 50/50 split along the cynical line. Of course 9/10 founders are going to fail, some people have more privilege to take risks, and people with families have to take measured risks. What's the point? Should people not try, keep crying about it, keep complaining that it's easy to say this when you have privilege, keep looking at the negative side? We all recognize life's…

I am not cynical, I am a 3 time founder and looking to start another company. I am the opposite of cynical. It is simply cautionary advice. I think we have a tendency to glorify startup life and I think people should be grounded in reality when making massive decisions like this.

There is also something called dealing with the consequences. People figure it out. It's not a joy ride, but it's not the end of the world.

At least most people in tech have the skills to fall back on a career if their company fails. Needless caution advice coated in a cynical tone just creates negativity around the whole topic.

Can't we just celebrate that the founder of Webflow managed to rescue his company from the brink of fail (even if it was dumb luck - it wasn't) and has built a life for himself? This is the stuff that inspires human beings and makes everyone feel like they could do it too. Clouding it in _oh but what if you're in the other 9 out of 10 camp_ is just you know .. pointless.

It's fine to say, hey make yourself comfortable first, play small bets and free yourself from complete ruin before you go bet the farm, but, yolo so you do you. But no need to rain on the parade of the person who has crossed over to the other side.

Re: Thanks HN: You helped save a company that now helps thousands make a living

#78

Post by dvt »

quickthrower2 wrote: post #71
dvt wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was specifically talking about founders (but even early stage engineers can do extremely well if the startup takes off). The upside is much higher doing your own thing rather than working at BigCorp (the two aren't even remotely comparable, but neither is the risk). Not to mention the end goals/QOL of working on what you want, commanding your own ship, being financially independent, etc. Virtually all self-made mil…

You can also get to millions by investing while working a regular job

Again, the upside is significantly higher if you start a company (financial independence is just one piece). It can be risky (see OP), but it's pretty rational to be a founder, especially if you can weather the adversity. I'm not even sure how my claims are controversial (especially here on HN, of all places).

Re: Thanks HN: You helped save a company that now helps thousands make a living

#79

Post by TeMPOraL »

notatrumper wrote: post #70
WD-42 wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's no surprise that the largest predictor of wealth is... wealth. Lots of founders might not be directly funded by family wealth, but the various safety nets and conveniences (even op said they sold 2 of their cars) are a major factor, if not the largest factor, of success. It's an ugly truth of life that I've come to accept: the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor.

Unless they bought Bitcoin for 1$ in 2009. Another tried and proven way is to marry somebody who is rich. Mostly just an option for women, though.

People who bought Bitcoin for $1 in 2009 won the lottery. There was no rational basis for expecting any significant payout from that.

Marrying into money is an option for some, but you have to make a big emotional sacrifice (at least in Western culture) if you opt for going by wallet instead of going by heart. It's doable, but GP's point here is that a rich person doesn't have to make that choice.

Re: Thanks HN: You helped save a company that now helps thousands make a living

#80

Post by rizpanjwani »

blizkreeg wrote: post #77
dumbfounder wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not cynical, I am a 3 time founder and looking to start another company. I am the opposite of cynical. It is simply cautionary advice. I think we have a tendency to glorify startup life and I think people should be grounded in reality when making massive decisions like this.

There is also something called dealing with the consequences. People figure it out. It's not a joy ride, but it's not the end of the world. At least most people in tech have the skills to fall back on a career if their company fails. Needless caution advice coated in a cynical tone just creates negativity around the whole topic. Can't we just celebrate that the founder of Webflow managed to rescue his company from th…

so basically you're saying it's ok to create positivity around a topic on a regular basis, but not negativity, even though the negative consequences happen more often than not?
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