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I would expect reasonable hours, some guarantee that the startup would be around for a year, a bigger potential pay-off than a big company, and that the other g

by jeb 16y ago

I would expect reasonable hours, some guarantee that the startup would be around for a year, a bigger potential pay-off than a big company, and that the other guy was a reasonable person with good ideas that was not a micro-manager.

jallmann 16y ago
If you expect reasonable hours, then an early-stage startup is probably not for you.
- jeb 16y ago
  I'd not work 12 hours a day for a company, and then end up worse than if I had worked for a big company. If I would end up with a million bucks, then yeah, but if there is no advantage, I rather work for a big company then. As any reasonable person should.
- thwarted 16y ago
  Part of "reasonable hours" is not spending time on stupid things that end up being wastes of time. Obviously, this can be hard to determine in an early stage startup, but mostly this comes down to the personality of the other founders, that they aren't pushing for things that don't increase the chances of success or aren't constantly having the company change gears before finding out if the current route is going to flesh out or not.
- dasil003 16y ago
  More than 40 is reasonable on an ongoing basis at a startup, but more than 60? more than 80? I don't think it's smart to expect creative people to work more than 50 hours a week on an ongoing basis. If they've got the requisite commitment and excitement then the other 62 waking hours will be well-spent subconscious time.
maineldc 16y ago
I think that this sounds more like being the first employee of a company rather than a technical cofounder. When recruiting the first few employees, this is exactly the pitch that I give to them but if you are going to be a cofounder, then reasonable hours, working environment, etc. are really up to you and the other cofounder. Thus, you make what you want. The point about "reasonable guy" is thus paramount. In fact, I would argue you need much more than reasonable.

by jeb 16y ago

jallmann 16y ago

If you expect reasonable hours, then an early-stage startup is probably not for you.

jeb 16y ago
I'd not work 12 hours a day for a company, and then end up worse than if I had worked for a big company. If I would end up with a million bucks, then yeah, but if there is no advantage, I rather work for a big company then. As any reasonable person should.
thwarted 16y ago
Part of "reasonable hours" is not spending time on stupid things that end up being wastes of time. Obviously, this can be hard to determine in an early stage startup, but mostly this comes down to the personality of the other founders, that they aren't pushing for things that don't increase the chances of success or aren't constantly having the company change gears before finding out if the current route is going to flesh out or not.
dasil003 16y ago
More than 40 is reasonable on an ongoing basis at a startup, but more than 60? more than 80? I don't think it's smart to expect creative people to work more than 50 hours a week on an ongoing basis. If they've got the requisite commitment and excitement then the other 62 waking hours will be well-spent subconscious time.

maineldc 16y ago

I think that this sounds more like being the first employee of a company rather than a technical cofounder. When recruiting the first few employees, this is exactly the pitch that I give to them but if you are going to be a cofounder, then reasonable hours, working environment, etc. are really up to you and the other cofounder. Thus, you make what you want. The point about "reasonable guy" is thus paramount. In fact, I would argue you need much more than reasonable.