4 ms·

Some of us are unable to do anything "on the side". When I do something I commit 100% - so if I feel like working after hours - I would just do my regular work.

tptacek 15y ago
I have bad news for you: in no business model other than "instantly win the VC lottery" do software statups promise you 100% focus on building software. You can consult, you can hustle for investor dollars, you can hustle for sales, you can hustle marketing channels, you can hustle for customers, but if nobody on your team is hustling somehow, you're probably kidding yourself that you're building a business.
- DuncanIdaho 15y ago
  I didn't mean 100% commitment on programming or whatever. I meant 100% commitment to a project. So if I'm working for the man - I'm 100% committed to working for the man. If I'm doing a startup then I'm doing that 100%. Hustling vs hacking is not an issue to me. It's just that doing a startup "project" while working for the man would seem inefficient to me. What I mean - if my idea/project has potential - I will find a way to hustle it into a proper 100% thing - else I am risking too much. I'm the same way with women. I don't even flirt if I am with someone - it just seems a waste of time to me. And I have always been with single woman at a time. To me if something is worth doing - then it has to be 100%. I don't read two books at a time - I devour them one by one. Edit: I do have a life - that's why most of this post is meant in a professional context.
  - davidw 15y ago
    > I'm 100% committed to working for the man So - no wife, kids, friends? Everyone has interests and activities - even passions - outside of work, and for some people that can be a nascent startup, simply a fun side project, or maybe some open source code that's great for learning or honing skills on. What you do in your own time is your own business. > doing a startup "project" while working for the man would seem inefficient to me The problem is this: startups at the 'idea' or 'a bit of code thrown together' stage can't really earn you a living, so you need to find a way to fill that gap. You can work on the side, a bit at a time, ala patio11. You can get investment money, so that you can commit full time, which is great, but is something outside your control. You can also save up some money and take the plunge, but that's not always a possibility either. In short, different things work for different people.
coffeeaddicted 15y ago
I had the same problem, I have to put in all energy to get projects done. But 6 weeks ago I switched to a contract that allows me working 4 days per week and I now spend Mondays for "on the side" work. So far it's rather refreshing and motivating, but will have to see how it works out in the long run. And it's certainly 20% less money - so also not something everyone will do I guess.

tptacek 15y ago

I have bad news for you: in no business model other than "instantly win the VC lottery" do software statups promise you 100% focus on building software. You can consult, you can hustle for investor dollars, you can hustle for sales, you can hustle marketing channels, you can hustle for customers, but if nobody on your team is hustling somehow, you're probably kidding yourself that you're building a business.

DuncanIdaho 15y ago
I didn't mean 100% commitment on programming or whatever. I meant 100% commitment to a project. So if I'm working for the man - I'm 100% committed to working for the man. If I'm doing a startup then I'm doing that 100%. Hustling vs hacking is not an issue to me. It's just that doing a startup "project" while working for the man would seem inefficient to me. What I mean - if my idea/project has potential - I will find a way to hustle it into a proper 100% thing - else I am risking too much. I'm the same way with women. I don't even flirt if I am with someone - it just seems a waste of time to me. And I have always been with single woman at a time. To me if something is worth doing - then it has to be 100%. I don't read two books at a time - I devour them one by one. Edit: I do have a life - that's why most of this post is meant in a professional context.
- davidw 15y ago
  > I'm 100% committed to working for the man So - no wife, kids, friends? Everyone has interests and activities - even passions - outside of work, and for some people that can be a nascent startup, simply a fun side project, or maybe some open source code that's great for learning or honing skills on. What you do in your own time is your own business. > doing a startup "project" while working for the man would seem inefficient to me The problem is this: startups at the 'idea' or 'a bit of code thrown together' stage can't really earn you a living, so you need to find a way to fill that gap. You can work on the side, a bit at a time, ala patio11. You can get investment money, so that you can commit full time, which is great, but is something outside your control. You can also save up some money and take the plunge, but that's not always a possibility either. In short, different things work for different people.

coffeeaddicted 15y ago

I had the same problem, I have to put in all energy to get projects done. But 6 weeks ago I switched to a contract that allows me working 4 days per week and I now spend Mondays for "on the side" work. So far it's rather refreshing and motivating, but will have to see how it works out in the long run. And it's certainly 20% less money - so also not something everyone will do I guess.