Prove themselves to who? Without either another technical person play off of or a cofounder/business-guy/whathaveyou that is able to recognize contribution and

Prove themselves to who? Without either another technical person play off of or a cofounder/business-guy/whathaveyou that is able to recognize contribution and not treat technical resources as replaceable cogs. Recognition by someone skilled or experienced or has background in the art is much more valuable than recognition by someone who is or has not. In my experience, I've proven myself to non-technical people who were peers with me at the time (we worked under the same blowhard), and that afforded a certain kind of respect that wouldn't come from having to prove yourself to a superordinate.