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There's something off-putting about these kinds of articles. I think it's because there's an intentional subtext that start-up founders are some kind of rare br

by chasing 13y ago

There's something off-putting about these kinds of articles. I think it's because there's an intentional subtext that start-up founders are some kind of rare breed of unwilling knights who have been called to noble action. "We must suffer so the world can experience the glory that is Docstoc." It's disingenuous. Start-up founders aren't being put-upon: They're making a conscious choice. Most people work harder than they want to and must make trade-offs. People with minimum wage jobs. Doctors, lawyers -- as others have mentioned. Pretty much everyone except the idle wealthy or unemployed. Pretty much everyone alive thinks they work too hard and wish they could spend more time with friends and family or working on hobbies, travelling, etc. Human condition.

mattzito 13y ago
Eeeexactly - I started to write almost exactly this and got distracted and returned to find you'd said it better than I could. Having a startup is certainly hard work for less pay than you might be making elsewhere. But you get all of the benefits of being your own boss to one degree or another, plus creating something from scratch, and the possible upside. I knew a guy who opened a lunch restaurant and catering business, and until it was making enough money, he'd work 6 days a week at the restaurant for lunch and catering gigs, and then also waited tables at a friend's restaurant and worked as a bartender at another friend's place. He basically got 4 hours of sleep a night, 7 days a week for three years. There was no brass ring or huge exit at the end of that path, he'd just decided at some point that he wanted to be his own boss. And then there's all the people out there who work two or three part-time jobs just to make ends meet, who never see their kids, who may not even have health insurance - where's their work/life balance? I personally feel privileged to have had the opportunity to start a company, make some money, have health insurance, and yes, worked my fair share of 60-hour weeks and all-nighters. I'm way better off than so many people in the US, forget about the rest of the world.
- marcosscriven 13y ago
  Read half the article - he lost me when he used that hackneyed phrase '110%'
  - 6d0debc071 13y ago
    Fairly sure she's a woman ^^;
    - abherrera 13y ago
      You would be right. I'm definitely not a dude.
- abherrera 13y ago
  I agree. Building a startup is a privilege. It's not something everyone gets to do. I come from a line of very hard working people. My parents were the ones that showed be that with knowledge and hard work anything can be achieved. That's why I chose to found my startup. As with any occupation there are unique challenges. Those challenges take a harder toll on some. Chatting with friends that lost marriages and have struggled with depression and/ or drugs as a direct consequence of their occupation as a startup founder was part of the reason for the post. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
seiji 13y ago
I think it's because there's an intentional subtext that start-up founders are some kind of rare breed of unwilling knights who have been called to noble action. I think that sentiment is summed up nicely in this comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5810546 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5810546 "The dream we sell to our employees" -- a clear delineation of "the powerful and right founders vs. lowly employees who have to be manipulated." "Join our ranks" -- What? What ranks? People who live charmed lives can't really understand the real world after a while. It's not their fault, and in a way, the world may be better because of it, but it's annoying when they unknowingly flaunt their "We're successful!" in our faces.
- abherrera 13y ago
  There's no subtext. The article was written to share my experiences, experiences of friends, and the challenges we go through. Startups are tough. As founders we are responsible for our teams, our customers, our vendors and partners, our advisory boards, our investors, family, friends, significant others, our health, and vision. It's not a compliant. I could go make a ton of money working a 9-5 without any of this type of stress and I choose not to because I love what I do and I love to build. The reason I mentioned Startups Anonymous is because it's a resource for founders and team members (I don't like the word employees it creates that separation you noted above). Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
  - chasing 13y ago
    There is a subtext. Think of the term "Startups Anonymous." It's a play on "Alcoholics Anonymous." Alcoholism is something people have a very hard time controlling. It's dangerous. It destroys relationships. It destroys lives. Participating in start-ups (as a founder or employee) is not something that's out of your control, despite your description of yourself as a "type A personality." It's just not. You do it out of passion. You do it out of a desire to build your own thing and make a more profound dent in the universe (and maybe get a little payday in the process). That's great -- and I respect that. You should be doing it with a sober mind and a clear picture of what you're doing and what your goals are. But when you paint being a start-up founder as being similar to having a drug or alcohol addiction -- as being something that you can't control and that ruins your life. Well, it kind of sounds like whining. Or like you're trying to paint yourself as some kind of martyr to the cause. Like something is being put upon you that's totally out of your control and it's ruining your life. It's not. You are given an option each evening: Stay at work or go visit friends you haven't seen in ages. You think it over and choose the reward that comes from work. Want closer friends? Choose them. You're in control. It's disingenuous to act otherwise.

by chasing 13y ago

mattzito 13y ago

Eeeexactly - I started to write almost exactly this and got distracted and returned to find you'd said it better than I could. Having a startup is certainly hard work for less pay than you might be making elsewhere. But you get all of the benefits of being your own boss to one degree or another, plus creating something from scratch, and the possible upside. I knew a guy who opened a lunch restaurant and catering business, and until it was making enough money, he'd work 6 days a week at the restaurant for lunch and catering gigs, and then also waited tables at a friend's restaurant and worked as a bartender at another friend's place. He basically got 4 hours of sleep a night, 7 days a week for three years. There was no brass ring or huge exit at the end of that path, he'd just decided at some point that he wanted to be his own boss. And then there's all the people out there who work two or three part-time jobs just to make ends meet, who never see their kids, who may not even have health insurance - where's their work/life balance? I personally feel privileged to have had the opportunity to start a company, make some money, have health insurance, and yes, worked my fair share of 60-hour weeks and all-nighters. I'm way better off than so many people in the US, forget about the rest of the world.

marcosscriven 13y ago
Read half the article - he lost me when he used that hackneyed phrase '110%'
- 6d0debc071 13y ago
  Fairly sure she's a woman ^^;
  - abherrera 13y ago
    You would be right. I'm definitely not a dude.
abherrera 13y ago
I agree. Building a startup is a privilege. It's not something everyone gets to do. I come from a line of very hard working people. My parents were the ones that showed be that with knowledge and hard work anything can be achieved. That's why I chose to found my startup. As with any occupation there are unique challenges. Those challenges take a harder toll on some. Chatting with friends that lost marriages and have struggled with depression and/ or drugs as a direct consequence of their occupation as a startup founder was part of the reason for the post. Thanks for sharing your perspective.

seiji 13y ago

I think it's because there's an intentional subtext that start-up founders are some kind of rare breed of unwilling knights who have been called to noble action. I think that sentiment is summed up nicely in this comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5810546 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5810546 "The dream we sell to our employees" -- a clear delineation of "the powerful and right founders vs. lowly employees who have to be manipulated." "Join our ranks" -- What? What ranks? People who live charmed lives can't really understand the real world after a while. It's not their fault, and in a way, the world may be better because of it, but it's annoying when they unknowingly flaunt their "We're successful!" in our faces.

abherrera 13y ago
There's no subtext. The article was written to share my experiences, experiences of friends, and the challenges we go through. Startups are tough. As founders we are responsible for our teams, our customers, our vendors and partners, our advisory boards, our investors, family, friends, significant others, our health, and vision. It's not a compliant. I could go make a ton of money working a 9-5 without any of this type of stress and I choose not to because I love what I do and I love to build. The reason I mentioned Startups Anonymous is because it's a resource for founders and team members (I don't like the word employees it creates that separation you noted above). Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
- chasing 13y ago
  There is a subtext. Think of the term "Startups Anonymous." It's a play on "Alcoholics Anonymous." Alcoholism is something people have a very hard time controlling. It's dangerous. It destroys relationships. It destroys lives. Participating in start-ups (as a founder or employee) is not something that's out of your control, despite your description of yourself as a "type A personality." It's just not. You do it out of passion. You do it out of a desire to build your own thing and make a more profound dent in the universe (and maybe get a little payday in the process). That's great -- and I respect that. You should be doing it with a sober mind and a clear picture of what you're doing and what your goals are. But when you paint being a start-up founder as being similar to having a drug or alcohol addiction -- as being something that you can't control and that ruins your life. Well, it kind of sounds like whining. Or like you're trying to paint yourself as some kind of martyr to the cause. Like something is being put upon you that's totally out of your control and it's ruining your life. It's not. You are given an option each evening: Stay at work or go visit friends you haven't seen in ages. You think it over and choose the reward that comes from work. Want closer friends? Choose them. You're in control. It's disingenuous to act otherwise.