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Why assume my time estimate is wrong? I asked him for the estimate of hours. He doesn't include "research" time, I told him I'd pay for that time - he doesn't t

Why assume my time estimate is wrong? I asked him for the estimate of hours. He doesn't include "research" time, I told him I'd pay for that time - he doesn't think it should be counted. In previous projects we've worked on, he has always underbilled we wanted to make sure that didn't happen this time. I managed our frontend dev team and I personally estimated their hours (since I've managed software teams before) and got only 10-20 hours over. I disrespect him because he started disrespecting me. Why assume the non-tech founder is always the bad guy? One email for instance - "We have our life savings in this. This one feature update has taken over three weeks, please give us an ETA. Can another developer assist?" Answer: "Guilt doesn't work... I won't be able to see this until Friday. Sure another dev can take a whack at it, I'll add him to repo" (Email sent last Tuesday).

coffee 15y ago
"I disrespect him because he started disrespecting me." That is very immature. "Why assume the non-tech founder is always the bad guy?" Because in most cases this is true. And when you write a post titled "My programmer is a dick..." what do you think people are going to assume? You demonstrate a lack of maturity and understanding of how to successfully engage with others. You came here asking for advice, don't be so defensive.
- richardjortega 15y ago
  I debated responding to you. But I will, because I'm trying to truly resolve this situation with my dev. I don't know the first thing about you and I won't assume. I'm asking for comments on what to do next. Sorry if I called a "person" a dick, and sorry if that person happened to be a fellow "programmer". Would you have replied to this post had I posted "I'm having difficulty with my programmer meeting deadlines"
  - deleted 15y ago
    [deleted]
    - richardjortega 15y ago
      Were you trolling? :) - I like you coffee. Isn't the assumption that I have a marketing background an assumption too? My background is web development (mostly frontend), not application development. I don't think you gave harsh criticism - hell I think we might make good friends. You don't know me and I don't know you - I tried to sum up a year's worth of work into 3 paragraphs because I want the next step (with or without our current dev). I'm not here to argue, I'm not trying to feel sorry for myself. I'm here to talk amongst other founders and programmers in other startups. Have you ever had a "My boss is a dick..." and chatted with like minded individuals? Everyone has, I came here almost just to vent. I know the options but I also know the risks, but just maybe, I don't know everything... ;)
      - coffee 15y ago
        No not trolling... I wasent assuming a marketing experience, it's directly what you state in your post. Maybe you meant to direct that statement to your co-founder and not yourself? I deleted my response as it was just to harsh. If you were a friend, I would be just that direct and harsh with you, honestly I think you need it. But as a stranger looking for advise from other strangers, there is no reason to go that route. You're right, I've had the conversation of "My boss is a dick..." but it was with fellow employees who worked under that boss, one-on-one, and not a public post. Is there a difference? I think so... But that's just my opinion. Honestly, you're the boss in this situation. That means if this is not working, it's 100% your fault. Period. If you want it fixed, you need to fix yourself, no one else should be expected to do it. Here are some thoughts: - Apologies to him. Tell him it's your fault things are not working smooth (even if he does not see it that way) and you want to do everything in your power to make it work better. Be genuine. - Restate that you have put everything into this, you've risked you entire life to do this. Quickly follow up with the fact that you 100% understand that he is putting up a huge risk to work on this. He his risking his future, his family, his house. Make sure he understands that YOU understand this fact. Be genuine. - Ask him what you can do in order to get past these brick walls. Once you ask him this, stop talking. Don't say a fucking word. Let him talk. Don't interrupt him. - Make the changes he suggests. If you can't, then cut the cord. If you do, then analyze the results. - If the results are good, make him a co-founder, you obviously need a technical one. Provide a document that outlines measurable results. Give him a real equity stake, with a 1 year cliff, and 4 year vesting. If he doesn't pull his weight, or produce the results before 1 year is up, cut the cord. - If things are still not fixed, cut the cord. Lose a friend over this a gain some experience from the whole situation. - Look for someone new. Apply these experiences to this new person. Hope that helps. I've been through similar shit, so good luck!
PonyGumbo 15y ago
>"We have our life savings in this." Look, I get the stress of the situation, but using emotional guilt is a terrible way to try to manage people. If he's not doing the work, let him go, and make sure you set clearer expectations for your next hire. His response doesn't strike me as any more inappropriate than you dropping the life savings bombshell on him.
- richardjortega 15y ago
  I wasn't trying to manage him, just that specific example was for a client who waited for three weeks for logins. All I need was an update (requested politely 4-6 times prior) and received no responses. Those emails aren't the only ones, usually he is couple words per email. But you are right, dropping a "life savings bombshell" on him wasn't right either. I think we didn't set expectations clearly with him because he was a friend and we worked together on various client work I didn't think anything of it.

coffee 15y ago

"I disrespect him because he started disrespecting me." That is very immature. "Why assume the non-tech founder is always the bad guy?" Because in most cases this is true. And when you write a post titled "My programmer is a dick..." what do you think people are going to assume? You demonstrate a lack of maturity and understanding of how to successfully engage with others. You came here asking for advice, don't be so defensive.

richardjortega 15y ago
I debated responding to you. But I will, because I'm trying to truly resolve this situation with my dev. I don't know the first thing about you and I won't assume. I'm asking for comments on what to do next. Sorry if I called a "person" a dick, and sorry if that person happened to be a fellow "programmer". Would you have replied to this post had I posted "I'm having difficulty with my programmer meeting deadlines"
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
  - richardjortega 15y ago
    Were you trolling? :) - I like you coffee. Isn't the assumption that I have a marketing background an assumption too? My background is web development (mostly frontend), not application development. I don't think you gave harsh criticism - hell I think we might make good friends. You don't know me and I don't know you - I tried to sum up a year's worth of work into 3 paragraphs because I want the next step (with or without our current dev). I'm not here to argue, I'm not trying to feel sorry for myself. I'm here to talk amongst other founders and programmers in other startups. Have you ever had a "My boss is a dick..." and chatted with like minded individuals? Everyone has, I came here almost just to vent. I know the options but I also know the risks, but just maybe, I don't know everything... ;)
    - coffee 15y ago
      No not trolling... I wasent assuming a marketing experience, it's directly what you state in your post. Maybe you meant to direct that statement to your co-founder and not yourself? I deleted my response as it was just to harsh. If you were a friend, I would be just that direct and harsh with you, honestly I think you need it. But as a stranger looking for advise from other strangers, there is no reason to go that route. You're right, I've had the conversation of "My boss is a dick..." but it was with fellow employees who worked under that boss, one-on-one, and not a public post. Is there a difference? I think so... But that's just my opinion. Honestly, you're the boss in this situation. That means if this is not working, it's 100% your fault. Period. If you want it fixed, you need to fix yourself, no one else should be expected to do it. Here are some thoughts: - Apologies to him. Tell him it's your fault things are not working smooth (even if he does not see it that way) and you want to do everything in your power to make it work better. Be genuine. - Restate that you have put everything into this, you've risked you entire life to do this. Quickly follow up with the fact that you 100% understand that he is putting up a huge risk to work on this. He his risking his future, his family, his house. Make sure he understands that YOU understand this fact. Be genuine. - Ask him what you can do in order to get past these brick walls. Once you ask him this, stop talking. Don't say a fucking word. Let him talk. Don't interrupt him. - Make the changes he suggests. If you can't, then cut the cord. If you do, then analyze the results. - If the results are good, make him a co-founder, you obviously need a technical one. Provide a document that outlines measurable results. Give him a real equity stake, with a 1 year cliff, and 4 year vesting. If he doesn't pull his weight, or produce the results before 1 year is up, cut the cord. - If things are still not fixed, cut the cord. Lose a friend over this a gain some experience from the whole situation. - Look for someone new. Apply these experiences to this new person. Hope that helps. I've been through similar shit, so good luck!

PonyGumbo 15y ago

>"We have our life savings in this." Look, I get the stress of the situation, but using emotional guilt is a terrible way to try to manage people. If he's not doing the work, let him go, and make sure you set clearer expectations for your next hire. His response doesn't strike me as any more inappropriate than you dropping the life savings bombshell on him.

richardjortega 15y ago
I wasn't trying to manage him, just that specific example was for a client who waited for three weeks for logins. All I need was an update (requested politely 4-6 times prior) and received no responses. Those emails aren't the only ones, usually he is couple words per email. But you are right, dropping a "life savings bombshell" on him wasn't right either. I think we didn't set expectations clearly with him because he was a friend and we worked together on various client work I didn't think anything of it.