5 ms·
This is an article about how it's risky to start a business and all those percentages and chances at success. again. Personally, when I had a J.O.B. 8 years a
by dpcan 17y ago
This is an article about how it's risky to start a business and all those percentages and chances at success. again.
Personally, when I had a J.O.B. 8 years ago, I felt it was far more risky. At any point, of any day, with or without notice, my boss could walk in and lay me off.
Done. No more money. No more job.
Being at the mercy of someone else has never felt safe or less risky to me. I was constantly stressed.
Working for myself means that if I need to get paid, I go out and get paid. I make it happen. I don't see how being in control of your OWN destiny is MORE risky. I rely on MYSELF, the person I trust and believe in most.
Sometimes I have to rely on others for contracts, but I'm in control of that relationship too.
I think the problem is that there are entrepreneurs and employees. I don't understand the employee mind-set, but it takes all kinds to make the world go around.
Maybe I'll write the article, "Entrepreneurship is for control freaks. Because I said so."
- Dellort 17y agoYou replaced your boss with a customer. No real change there; You're still at the mercy of someone. I'd say you're a dumbass for not realizing this, but I'll decline to as we're supposed to keep a higher standard here on HN.
- codexon 17y agoA boss can fire you even if you are bringing in a profit. All it takes is 1 bad day, or a mistaken belief that someone from India can do the same job for half the price. If you are the owner, it doesn't matter if one or two customers are hard to deal with. All you do is stop selling to them, and you will most likely still be in business.
- tptacek 17y agoA board can fire you and your whole team even if you're profitable. All it takes is 1 bad day, or a mistaken belief that outsourcing to a team in India can solve the same problem for half the price.
- codexon 17y agoIf your company is happens to have a board that doesn't include you, you either 1. Already sold your company. 2. Didn't really contribute to its founding.
- tptacek 17y ago"Not worth more than being laid-off" would be hyperbolic, but I'd guess that your private company non-preferred shares are worth a lot less than you think they are. I have stories from real, "successful" companies that screwed over everyone not currently on staff on exit. It's not hard to do.
- codexon 17y agoIf shares of your company were undersold and you lose controlling interest in the process, that is your own fault. Founders usually have a different class of stock which has more voting rights per value. This is like an employee accepting a $10/hour contract, and then complaining later that it was too low.
- tptacek 17y agoFounders don't usually get preferred stock.