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For many of us self-employment / entrepreneurship is not a choice, it's not something we just want to do, it's something we have to do. There is no plan B. If w

by gizmo 17y ago

For many of us self-employment / entrepreneurship is not a choice, it's not something we just want to do, it's something we have to do. There is no plan B. If we have to start 10 companies and fail 10 times, then so be it. Self-destructive as that may be. So when somebody decides to get a regular job after all, I won't think less of him. I will wonder though... "maybe he wasn't one of us after all, maybe it was just a hobby, an experiment". Maybe you were just bicurious. Having no respect for regular employees makes no sense, because you need them to turn your vision into reality. And employees with an entrepreneurial mindset are often worth their weight in gold. I don't know any real entrepreneurs who dismiss employees as mindless sheep. (I realize I'm not speaking for everybody. Take what I write with a grain of salt.)

jaekwon 17y ago
fyi 160 pounds of gold is almost 3 million dollars. just saying.
- gizmo 17y ago
  I had no idea. Food for thought: Google's average revenue per employee is $1.2 million/yr.
- GeoffWozniak 17y ago
  I guess I'm worth about 60 pounds more. Protip: look for heavy, entrepeneurial employees.
eavc 17y ago
That's actually really interesting, your line about not being "one of us." If you read my response to another comment below, that urge was never there for me. Going out on my own was a reasoned decision based on false assumptions and incomplete evidence about what would give me satisfaction. It wasn't a passion. It wasn't a drive. It wasn't a hunger or the thrill of the hunt. I just didn't like my job. My opinion is that none of my assumptions were uncommon ones and that the evidence I had at the time is also pretty typical, so my situation is a relatively common one (or will be as more people come to where I am now). I think you've hit on something important about it being hardwired into your personality. That might be a good reality check for people just starting out. Have you been entrepreneurial your whole life? Do you have the necessary drive? What are your priorities? etc. Instead, it often gets framed around intelligence, willpower, courage, and a lot of other stuff that no self-respecting person would readily admit not having. It almost shames you into sticking with it. It would have been helpful early on if I'd encountered more warnings along the way that were genuine in encouraging me to consider quitting. I know that some commenters just fired up their caps-lock at the mere mention of quitting, but hear me out. Some people think this stuff is for them, but it's not really. Getting smart and clear about where that distinction can be made and helping people figure it out sooner is good for everyone. It gives the bad-fit types (like me) a good clue to look elsewhere, and it gives the good-fit types (like you) a renewed sense of confidence despite discouragements and failure.

by gizmo 17y ago

jaekwon 17y ago

fyi 160 pounds of gold is almost 3 million dollars. just saying.

gizmo 17y ago
I had no idea. Food for thought: Google's average revenue per employee is $1.2 million/yr.
GeoffWozniak 17y ago
I guess I'm worth about 60 pounds more. Protip: look for heavy, entrepeneurial employees.

eavc 17y ago

That's actually really interesting, your line about not being "one of us." If you read my response to another comment below, that urge was never there for me. Going out on my own was a reasoned decision based on false assumptions and incomplete evidence about what would give me satisfaction. It wasn't a passion. It wasn't a drive. It wasn't a hunger or the thrill of the hunt. I just didn't like my job. My opinion is that none of my assumptions were uncommon ones and that the evidence I had at the time is also pretty typical, so my situation is a relatively common one (or will be as more people come to where I am now). I think you've hit on something important about it being hardwired into your personality. That might be a good reality check for people just starting out. Have you been entrepreneurial your whole life? Do you have the necessary drive? What are your priorities? etc. Instead, it often gets framed around intelligence, willpower, courage, and a lot of other stuff that no self-respecting person would readily admit not having. It almost shames you into sticking with it. It would have been helpful early on if I'd encountered more warnings along the way that were genuine in encouraging me to consider quitting. I know that some commenters just fired up their caps-lock at the mere mention of quitting, but hear me out. Some people think this stuff is for them, but it's not really. Getting smart and clear about where that distinction can be made and helping people figure it out sooner is good for everyone. It gives the bad-fit types (like me) a good clue to look elsewhere, and it gives the good-fit types (like you) a renewed sense of confidence despite discouragements and failure.