4 ms·

I can understand a business oriented (I'm assuming) co-founder pushing for quality/release/cost, but in no way I would let them say whatever I'm doing is "easy"

by inerte 16y ago

I can understand a business oriented (I'm assuming) co-founder pushing for quality/release/cost, but in no way I would let them say whatever I'm doing is "easy". It's disrespectful! If this was being said by a customer, my treatment would be totally different. But to a co-founder, honestly I would tell him to fuck off. I would be irate. I wouldn't let him downplay my work. Ever. C'mon. What kind of work environment is your company going to have? Imagine hiring some employee and telling him "Your work is easy. I'm now wondering if I'm paying you too much." Or maybe I'm too bitter and stressed today and someone else will give you a more diplomatic route.

hga 16y ago
Agreed; I see babyduck having three or so options: Change his co-founder's attitude, obtain his respect. Admit that he's just hired help and is not himself really a co-founder. Remember that one of the subtexts of "that's easy" is "I can replace you easily". Leave for a better startup or someplace where you'll be treated no better but will get market compensation for the privilege.
- babyduck 16y ago
  My co-founder is very aware that she'd have trouble replacing me. She was looking for a partner with very specific characteristics, and I'm one of the few who fit. She's just blunt, and if something looks easy to her, she says it. She's never worked with a programmer before, so she has no idea how good I am. When I get things done quickly, she can take it for granted; she honestly thinks it must be easy. This shouldn't matter, but I do have an ego, so it's getting to me. People are right, I have to talk with her.
  - hga 16y ago
    Anyone who has no knowledge of the field and who says "I can't see how X would take long/be difficult" is being more than "blunt". At best they're very impolite, they're lacking the mental filters that prevent many people from saying such. If that's the case, you have to wonder how she's interacting with your company's customers.... When you say "She was looking for a partner with very specific characteristics, and I'm one of the few who fit." I really have to wonder if she truly sees you as a partner or co-founder. If she's capable of being polite, then you have to wonder why she doesn't bother with you. Especially since treating people with disrespect is not going to have a happy ending. It's already getting to you, and when you hire a new technical person she's going to treat them with disrespect, continuing the problem, but the worse alternative for you is that she won't. It's hard for me to see how this venture will be successful for you without getting some good results when you talk to her, and that means real change, not promises. Be aware that despite the fact that she "is very aware that she'd have trouble replacing" you, that doesn't mean she won't try, even if it kills the company (been there, done that).

by inerte 16y ago

hga 16y ago

Agreed; I see babyduck having three or so options: Change his co-founder's attitude, obtain his respect. Admit that he's just hired help and is not himself really a co-founder. Remember that one of the subtexts of "that's easy" is "I can replace you easily". Leave for a better startup or someplace where you'll be treated no better but will get market compensation for the privilege.

babyduck 16y ago
My co-founder is very aware that she'd have trouble replacing me. She was looking for a partner with very specific characteristics, and I'm one of the few who fit. She's just blunt, and if something looks easy to her, she says it. She's never worked with a programmer before, so she has no idea how good I am. When I get things done quickly, she can take it for granted; she honestly thinks it must be easy. This shouldn't matter, but I do have an ego, so it's getting to me. People are right, I have to talk with her.
- hga 16y ago
  Anyone who has no knowledge of the field and who says "I can't see how X would take long/be difficult" is being more than "blunt". At best they're very impolite, they're lacking the mental filters that prevent many people from saying such. If that's the case, you have to wonder how she's interacting with your company's customers.... When you say "She was looking for a partner with very specific characteristics, and I'm one of the few who fit." I really have to wonder if she truly sees you as a partner or co-founder. If she's capable of being polite, then you have to wonder why she doesn't bother with you. Especially since treating people with disrespect is not going to have a happy ending. It's already getting to you, and when you hire a new technical person she's going to treat them with disrespect, continuing the problem, but the worse alternative for you is that she won't. It's hard for me to see how this venture will be successful for you without getting some good results when you talk to her, and that means real change, not promises. Be aware that despite the fact that she "is very aware that she'd have trouble replacing" you, that doesn't mean she won't try, even if it kills the company (been there, done that).