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Well, first of all don't go to people thinking why they might turn you down. People don't care about money, as long as you can pay them enough to pay the rent

Well, first of all don't go to people thinking why they might turn you down. People don't care about money, as long as you can pay them enough to pay the rent / mortgage and the little extras in life. If you don't have that kind of money, you're doomed anyway. Offer them a dream job. If they believe in the project, they know money will come later. On a really tight budget? Recruit less. 2 seniors instead of 5 juniors.

stanleydrew 17y ago
I appreciate your optimism, but in real life most people do care about money.
dkarl 17y ago
People don't care about money, as long as you can pay them enough to pay the rent / mortgage and the little extras in life. With that pitch your best bet is empty-nesters and retired folks itching to get back in the game. Otherwise, it isn't just the mortgage. It's the mortgage, the car payment, car insurance, a month-long overseas vacations you've planned out a year in advance, kids' dental, your in-laws taking your kids on a skiing vacation (but you're paying), the kids going to tennis/band/nerd camp, time to replace the refrigerator, the couch has a funny smell you can't get rid of.... (I'm paying special attention to my older coworkers so I know why I'm saving my money.) The college kid is probably sleeping on a couch that an experienced engineer had to throw out because prosperous forty-year-old people aren't allowed to have furniture that smells funny. The college kid doesn't care if the roof leaks, because that's the landlord's problem. (Maybe's he's paying a few hundred a month for a bedroom and his name isn't even on the lease.) The refrigerator needs to be replaced? Lemme check. Nope, the beer's still cold. Retired people, on the other hand, live like college students except with better hygiene, different recreational choices, and more regular sleep schedules.
- shin_lao 17y ago
  That sounds like people perhaps a bit more experience that what I had in mind. There's a sweet spot when you are in your late 20s, early 30s. Respectable experience (around 10 years), no family to support and the burning desire to do something with your life and your skills. They trade a little short term income for a potential jackpot and a fun job that pushes their limits. That's the kind of people I was thinking about. Grand pa and the kids may join later if they want to.
lsc 17y ago
whenever someone tells me that money shouldn't matter, I hear "I'm trying to take advantage of you" If you want me to work for you for equity, you better be bringing something valuable to the table; and you know what? that idea isn't valuable. Not until you implement it. This is the other reason why startups like young people; a young Engineer is easier to impress into thinking your 'idea' is so awesome that you keep 90% of the equity while he does all the work. (and yeah, I've seen that exact scheme come to pass.) Sure, business people often contribute more than an idea. A /good/ business person is quite valuable. a bad business person is worse than nothing, though, and it's extremely difficult for a nerd to tell the difference.

stanleydrew 17y ago

I appreciate your optimism, but in real life most people do care about money.

dkarl 17y ago

People don't care about money, as long as you can pay them enough to pay the rent / mortgage and the little extras in life. With that pitch your best bet is empty-nesters and retired folks itching to get back in the game. Otherwise, it isn't just the mortgage. It's the mortgage, the car payment, car insurance, a month-long overseas vacations you've planned out a year in advance, kids' dental, your in-laws taking your kids on a skiing vacation (but you're paying), the kids going to tennis/band/nerd camp, time to replace the refrigerator, the couch has a funny smell you can't get rid of.... (I'm paying special attention to my older coworkers so I know why I'm saving my money.) The college kid is probably sleeping on a couch that an experienced engineer had to throw out because prosperous forty-year-old people aren't allowed to have furniture that smells funny. The college kid doesn't care if the roof leaks, because that's the landlord's problem. (Maybe's he's paying a few hundred a month for a bedroom and his name isn't even on the lease.) The refrigerator needs to be replaced? Lemme check. Nope, the beer's still cold. Retired people, on the other hand, live like college students except with better hygiene, different recreational choices, and more regular sleep schedules.

shin_lao 17y ago
That sounds like people perhaps a bit more experience that what I had in mind. There's a sweet spot when you are in your late 20s, early 30s. Respectable experience (around 10 years), no family to support and the burning desire to do something with your life and your skills. They trade a little short term income for a potential jackpot and a fun job that pushes their limits. That's the kind of people I was thinking about. Grand pa and the kids may join later if they want to.

lsc 17y ago

whenever someone tells me that money shouldn't matter, I hear "I'm trying to take advantage of you" If you want me to work for you for equity, you better be bringing something valuable to the table; and you know what? that idea isn't valuable. Not until you implement it. This is the other reason why startups like young people; a young Engineer is easier to impress into thinking your 'idea' is so awesome that you keep 90% of the equity while he does all the work. (and yeah, I've seen that exact scheme come to pass.) Sure, business people often contribute more than an idea. A /good/ business person is quite valuable. a bad business person is worse than nothing, though, and it's extremely difficult for a nerd to tell the difference.