5 ms·

I've lost enthusiasm for my startup

8 points by greenjournal 15y ago

I find myself doing things for the startup out of obligation to the investors, who have been awesome. When people ask me if I'm excited, I can't honestly say yes. I still love the product and love the process of creating a company, we are not doing badly (but not exploding either), but I don't really like the people I'm working with anymore. I also just broke up with a long term girlfriend, which was devastating, so maybe that is influencing things. What should I do? I'm not sure if my reason for a lack of enthusiasm is because of the people I have to work with, it is just one of the first things that come to mind. I still need these people and their skills for the startup, though.

gamechangr 15y ago
Don't make a move until the dust from your girlfriend settles. You have to get the passion back...or quit!
taskstrike 15y ago
Some advice: When I'm sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. The fact that you are making money is already great, a lot of people are struggling to get by in their companies. Don't make a decision that you will later regret.
glimcat 15y ago
This for me is one of the hardest parts. The stereotypical obsession with "The Idea" is usually devoted to finding one which will make it magically rain money. Finding something that will keep me interested and motivated for more than a year - that's HARD.
- greenjournal 15y ago
  actually, I still love the idea, the product, the vision, etc. So it's not that, it's something else.
  - endersshadow 15y ago
    Probably your breakup affecting things. I know how it is, but hang in there. Find a good friend to lean on--I don't know what your support network looks like. When I went through divorce, I had good friends that helped me through, and after a few months, I was back to myself.
blaireaug 15y ago
Have you talked to your cofounders about it? If not, maybe you should. If you can't, then quit.
AznHisoka 15y ago
Napoleon Hill once said that man just does ambitions to impress women! Now that you lose your girlfriend, perhaps this is the case for you? You lost the bulk of your motivation?
nodemaker 15y ago
Take a break and go to Hawaii or some place exotic ALONE. Meet some exotic women there. You'll be fine. Dont think too much. I have noticed that the best way of dealing with a bad mood is to ignore it.
chris_dcosta 15y ago
I think your title isn't correct. You said as much yourself - you don't hate the startup, you hate the people, and your analysis is correct, it's the break-up that's tainting things. Are you the boss? Can the thing run without you for a while? Take a break. Make a decision: stay or go. Come back and implement it.
andrewhillman 15y ago
It sounds like you are in a "funk" from your personal life and it's spilling over into your professional life. I hate to say it and I might get downvoted for saying this, but you need to take your mind off your ex gf by going out on some "dates"... then reevaluate things at work. What I am trying to say is...let's add a little excitement back into your personal life and see what happens.
igzebedze2 15y ago
personal crisis is a huge factor here, and don't assume you can or that you should separate personal life from business. it doesn't work. what don't you like with the people you're working with?

8 points by greenjournal 15y ago

gamechangr 15y ago

Don't make a move until the dust from your girlfriend settles. You have to get the passion back...or quit!

taskstrike 15y ago

Some advice: When I'm sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. The fact that you are making money is already great, a lot of people are struggling to get by in their companies. Don't make a decision that you will later regret.

glimcat 15y ago

This for me is one of the hardest parts. The stereotypical obsession with "The Idea" is usually devoted to finding one which will make it magically rain money. Finding something that will keep me interested and motivated for more than a year - that's HARD.

greenjournal 15y ago
actually, I still love the idea, the product, the vision, etc. So it's not that, it's something else.
- endersshadow 15y ago
  Probably your breakup affecting things. I know how it is, but hang in there. Find a good friend to lean on--I don't know what your support network looks like. When I went through divorce, I had good friends that helped me through, and after a few months, I was back to myself.

blaireaug 15y ago

Have you talked to your cofounders about it? If not, maybe you should. If you can't, then quit.

AznHisoka 15y ago

Napoleon Hill once said that man just does ambitions to impress women! Now that you lose your girlfriend, perhaps this is the case for you? You lost the bulk of your motivation?

nodemaker 15y ago

Take a break and go to Hawaii or some place exotic ALONE. Meet some exotic women there. You'll be fine. Dont think too much. I have noticed that the best way of dealing with a bad mood is to ignore it.

chris_dcosta 15y ago

I think your title isn't correct. You said as much yourself - you don't hate the startup, you hate the people, and your analysis is correct, it's the break-up that's tainting things. Are you the boss? Can the thing run without you for a while? Take a break. Make a decision: stay or go. Come back and implement it.

andrewhillman 15y ago

It sounds like you are in a "funk" from your personal life and it's spilling over into your professional life. I hate to say it and I might get downvoted for saying this, but you need to take your mind off your ex gf by going out on some "dates"... then reevaluate things at work. What I am trying to say is...let's add a little excitement back into your personal life and see what happens.

igzebedze2 15y ago

personal crisis is a huge factor here, and don't assume you can or that you should separate personal life from business. it doesn't work. what don't you like with the people you're working with?