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I can't help but think the author has her priorities completely messed up. A brand new baby and a husband with cancer, and she decides that starting a company i

I can't help but think the author has her priorities completely messed up. A brand new baby and a husband with cancer, and she decides that starting a company is the best use of her time? Sorry, but it's beyond bizarre to me. Just because you can do something by sacrificing your health and your time with your family members doesn't mean that you should.

reducesuffering 10y ago
The cancer popped up after the company was started and received funding. Based on the blog post, it sounds like the baby and husbands issues come first priority. This leads to any free time being used towards the company and causing her to maximize this time through the methods mentioned. I don't think it would be healthy for her to 24/7 be worrying about others, and the startup seems like a worthy outlet.
- tomovo 10y ago
  Yeah, sounds more like the family situation may have helper her realize it's really important for one to waste no time in life and to do as much meaningful stuff as possible while they can. Hence the title.
ladytron 10y ago
Who are you to judge her priorities? Watching an infant can be brain numbingly tedious, and so can sitting in waiting rooms for hours at a medical office. Maybe the startup gives her husband a positive distraction to focus on instead of his treatment and it gives them something good to talk about. You have no idea. A startup might be the perfect antidote to balance out her other duties to her family. Remember that all people are not equal, some people are in the top 1% of population for energy, or IQ, or organization, or even with a need for sleep. Aka do not attempt to measure this woman against the "norm", she is probably very very capable and can handle everything better than most. All of us have a unique blend of skills and abilities, and it takes less effort for some of us to fulfill priorities than others.
- annekate 10y ago
  I am her cofounder and I can verify she is not normal. She is exceptionally capable, hard-working and focused. When she is with her kid she is 100% a mom. When she is at work she is 100% a founder. When her husband needs her, she is there; she managed all of his care, down to staying up late reading medical research papers so she could understand his test results. A lot of people would have given up. I certainly wouldn't have blamed her for a second if she had. She chose to fight and I'll be damned if she isn't winning. It's inspiring to see.
- BadCookie 10y ago
  Obviously, she can do what she wants with her life, but by writing about her decisions, she has invited people to comment on her experiences. I've dealt with a newborn. It is soooo stressful and exhausting. I have dealt with serious health problems. Even more stressful. I have almost a decade of startup experience (though not as a founder). Also stressful. For 99.9% of people, and maybe more, combining the three is a recipe for disaster. Apparently she got lucky and it worked out, but I really hate this message that people can "have it all" because life doesn't work like that. There are always trade offs.
  - ladytron 10y ago
    This post is written for that .1% then, and probably not for you. Founders are very different people, with very different energy levels and risk profiles than the general population, or even the population of startup employees. Some of us CAN have it all, and there are not always trade offs for us compared to the "norm". For example, some can excel in multiple college varsity sports while holding a 4.0 in EE, when most college students play club ball and feel overwhelmed getting their homework done. I would like you to entertain the thought that others may have 10x more capacity than yourself. My goodness, let Hacker News be at least one place where unique women feel free to be honest about their drive, ambition, and productivity.
smustin 10y ago
I started the company BEFORE my husband was diagnosed with cancer but to be clear I never sacrificed my health or time with my family. My husband is now cured of cancer, my family is thriving, and Winnie is doing great too. That's kind of the point of the post -- you can have it all (mostly).

reducesuffering 10y ago

The cancer popped up after the company was started and received funding. Based on the blog post, it sounds like the baby and husbands issues come first priority. This leads to any free time being used towards the company and causing her to maximize this time through the methods mentioned. I don't think it would be healthy for her to 24/7 be worrying about others, and the startup seems like a worthy outlet.

tomovo 10y ago
Yeah, sounds more like the family situation may have helper her realize it's really important for one to waste no time in life and to do as much meaningful stuff as possible while they can. Hence the title.

ladytron 10y ago

Who are you to judge her priorities? Watching an infant can be brain numbingly tedious, and so can sitting in waiting rooms for hours at a medical office. Maybe the startup gives her husband a positive distraction to focus on instead of his treatment and it gives them something good to talk about. You have no idea. A startup might be the perfect antidote to balance out her other duties to her family. Remember that all people are not equal, some people are in the top 1% of population for energy, or IQ, or organization, or even with a need for sleep. Aka do not attempt to measure this woman against the "norm", she is probably very very capable and can handle everything better than most. All of us have a unique blend of skills and abilities, and it takes less effort for some of us to fulfill priorities than others.

annekate 10y ago
I am her cofounder and I can verify she is not normal. She is exceptionally capable, hard-working and focused. When she is with her kid she is 100% a mom. When she is at work she is 100% a founder. When her husband needs her, she is there; she managed all of his care, down to staying up late reading medical research papers so she could understand his test results. A lot of people would have given up. I certainly wouldn't have blamed her for a second if she had. She chose to fight and I'll be damned if she isn't winning. It's inspiring to see.
BadCookie 10y ago
Obviously, she can do what she wants with her life, but by writing about her decisions, she has invited people to comment on her experiences. I've dealt with a newborn. It is soooo stressful and exhausting. I have dealt with serious health problems. Even more stressful. I have almost a decade of startup experience (though not as a founder). Also stressful. For 99.9% of people, and maybe more, combining the three is a recipe for disaster. Apparently she got lucky and it worked out, but I really hate this message that people can "have it all" because life doesn't work like that. There are always trade offs.
- ladytron 10y ago
  This post is written for that .1% then, and probably not for you. Founders are very different people, with very different energy levels and risk profiles than the general population, or even the population of startup employees. Some of us CAN have it all, and there are not always trade offs for us compared to the "norm". For example, some can excel in multiple college varsity sports while holding a 4.0 in EE, when most college students play club ball and feel overwhelmed getting their homework done. I would like you to entertain the thought that others may have 10x more capacity than yourself. My goodness, let Hacker News be at least one place where unique women feel free to be honest about their drive, ambition, and productivity.

smustin 10y ago

I started the company BEFORE my husband was diagnosed with cancer but to be clear I never sacrificed my health or time with my family. My husband is now cured of cancer, my family is thriving, and Winnie is doing great too. That's kind of the point of the post -- you can have it all (mostly).