4 ms·

Should have hired a tech co-founder

15 points by seanlinehan 13y ago

edge17 13y ago
i still use powerpoint for that
hga 13y ago
That he thinks of "hiring" a "co-founder" is perhaps telling. ADDED: On the flip side, us techies shouldn't co-found a company unless we're willing to pitch in when "[...] we found sales in other channels that required late nights of packaging (and lots of manly muscles)" (or, I'd add, womanly muscles, women have their place in this sort of work too). As I like to say, "You shouldn't be too proud to sweep a floor."
- jonathanjaeger 13y ago
  If he has the money to hire someone on a trial basis to test out the relationship before jumping into the whole commitment/be my technical co-founder deal, then yes, I think it makes sense. I'm sure there are many potential technical cofounders who would rather than just simply work for free without even knowing what they're getting themselves into, considering the company seems like it's already going.
- makerops 13y ago
  I'd add that if you don't enjoy the cathartic release of sweeping the floor of your business, you probably shouldn't be running one, or aren't working hard enough.
- argyle35 13y ago
  Fair point :) I didn't co-found with a technical person. Would have had to bring someone on later, and then retroactively called them a co-founder (which I would have been fine with, titles are for ...). I think it's just about hiring a technical lead / peer early-on. OH, and yeah, I don't have real muscles. One of my early teammates, a woman Liz who flew a rescue-vac helicopter in the Army, that's someone with muscles and heart. Appreciate you taking the time to comment.
- Bluestrike2 13y ago
  You're dead on with both points, though I think it's the second one that's just way too important to forget. Many years ago, my grandfather started selling cemetery property and later worked his way up to the point where he was able to buy a small cemetery himself and grow a company from there slaving away with his brother. Until the day he died, he never really stopped. The company's still in the family, and I love to talk to my dad and one of my uncles in particular about some of the stories from back when. The really impressive part (IMO), and the one you made me think of, is how they all grew up working outside in the heat and the rain and the cold and everything in maintenance. Some of the stories are really just amazing to hear, and absolutely helped them better understand every facet of the business. But when I hear them the talk, there's a fondness of those memories and the sweat that made them that's just really hard to not be a little in awe of. In some ways, I think they enjoy them more than even things like a road trip to Disneyland. It's no wonder I got to do the same thing as a teenager :D. Anyhow, who knows, when you find yourself sweeping the floor you might just find you enjoy it more than you'd think when it's all said and done.
dirkdk 13y ago
hire and co-founder is a contradiction
stalin 13y ago
haha, that's awesome
rmason 13y ago
Well according to James Altucher he's wrong. You don't need a tech co-founder, just contract it out to the lowest bidder ;<). #8 on http://thoughtcatalog.com/2013/the-ultimate-cheat-sheet-for-starting-and-running-a-business/ http://thoughtcatalog.com/2013/the-ultimate-cheat-sheet-for-...
bulavard 13y ago
Why build an online store from scratch when it's obvious that's not where the value-add is? Use something like Shopify and focus on the business. Don't use a lack of technical expertise as the justification for failure. Keep moving.
tazzy531 13y ago
If he's looking to hire someone, it would help if he included the name of his company or link from his post. I ended up finding it in small letters under his profile picture. Also, saying "hiring a co-founder" is basically like saying "hiring a wife". You don't hire either one of those if you're looking for a partner. If you're not looking for a partner, you hire a contractor that will get the job done.

15 points by seanlinehan 13y ago

i still use powerpoint for that

hga 13y ago

That he thinks of "hiring" a "co-founder" is perhaps telling. ADDED: On the flip side, us techies shouldn't co-found a company unless we're willing to pitch in when "[...] we found sales in other channels that required late nights of packaging (and lots of manly muscles)" (or, I'd add, womanly muscles, women have their place in this sort of work too). As I like to say, "You shouldn't be too proud to sweep a floor."

jonathanjaeger 13y ago
If he has the money to hire someone on a trial basis to test out the relationship before jumping into the whole commitment/be my technical co-founder deal, then yes, I think it makes sense. I'm sure there are many potential technical cofounders who would rather than just simply work for free without even knowing what they're getting themselves into, considering the company seems like it's already going.
makerops 13y ago
I'd add that if you don't enjoy the cathartic release of sweeping the floor of your business, you probably shouldn't be running one, or aren't working hard enough.
argyle35 13y ago
Fair point :) I didn't co-found with a technical person. Would have had to bring someone on later, and then retroactively called them a co-founder (which I would have been fine with, titles are for ...). I think it's just about hiring a technical lead / peer early-on. OH, and yeah, I don't have real muscles. One of my early teammates, a woman Liz who flew a rescue-vac helicopter in the Army, that's someone with muscles and heart. Appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Bluestrike2 13y ago
You're dead on with both points, though I think it's the second one that's just way too important to forget. Many years ago, my grandfather started selling cemetery property and later worked his way up to the point where he was able to buy a small cemetery himself and grow a company from there slaving away with his brother. Until the day he died, he never really stopped. The company's still in the family, and I love to talk to my dad and one of my uncles in particular about some of the stories from back when. The really impressive part (IMO), and the one you made me think of, is how they all grew up working outside in the heat and the rain and the cold and everything in maintenance. Some of the stories are really just amazing to hear, and absolutely helped them better understand every facet of the business. But when I hear them the talk, there's a fondness of those memories and the sweat that made them that's just really hard to not be a little in awe of. In some ways, I think they enjoy them more than even things like a road trip to Disneyland. It's no wonder I got to do the same thing as a teenager :D. Anyhow, who knows, when you find yourself sweeping the floor you might just find you enjoy it more than you'd think when it's all said and done.

dirkdk 13y ago

hire and co-founder is a contradiction

stalin 13y ago

haha, that's awesome

rmason 13y ago

Well according to James Altucher he's wrong. You don't need a tech co-founder, just contract it out to the lowest bidder ;<). #8 on http://thoughtcatalog.com/2013/the-ultimate-cheat-sheet-for-starting-and-running-a-business/ http://thoughtcatalog.com/2013/the-ultimate-cheat-sheet-for-...

bulavard 13y ago

Why build an online store from scratch when it's obvious that's not where the value-add is? Use something like Shopify and focus on the business. Don't use a lack of technical expertise as the justification for failure. Keep moving.

tazzy531 13y ago

If he's looking to hire someone, it would help if he included the name of his company or link from his post. I ended up finding it in small letters under his profile picture. Also, saying "hiring a co-founder" is basically like saying "hiring a wife". You don't hire either one of those if you're looking for a partner. If you're not looking for a partner, you hire a contractor that will get the job done.