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It is helpful, Alan and thank you for taking the time. Having a good lifestyle is important to me, which is why I am considering the move. I feel like my loca

by rjurney 17y ago

It is helpful, Alan and thank you for taking the time. Having a good lifestyle is important to me, which is why I am considering the move. I feel like my location does not suit my lifestyle. In life I've found three things I deeply care about so far: my wife, startups, and surfing. There I could have all three. I can't really understate the surfing part... when I surf regularly, I am a much better person. I calm down deep inside. It also keeps me in shape in a way nothing else ever has. I don't think that moving to the Valley will automatically mean funding, or success. I'm a strong advocate of customer development, and I totally agree about scoping a product to fit your resources. I think that if you have a solid product concept grounded in a real, confirmable market need that you can build a startup anywhere. What I mean is: if startups are important to me, maybe I should be in the place that is most supportive of them? I'm 29, and I have no wealth to speak of because I spent it starting companies. I don't want to be 39 in the same situation... so maybe I should stack the deck in every way that I can. As you point out - most valley companies still fail. As to VC... I don't want any, unless I'm in a high-growth situation where I can get a valuation the lets us retain control. Angel money is more interesting. But I believe in creating and growing revenue from day one - and we're doing that.

skmurphy 17y ago
In life I've found three things I deeply care about so far: my wife, startups, and surfing. Why not pick wife, surfing, and one 40-50 hour a week job. Start a family. Start your company in your late 40's early 50's with some partners--there are a lot of people who become entrepreneurs at that age. In the interim save your money and your health. I worry that your current "stopping rule" from work is disabling injury.
- rjurney 17y ago
  I've tried this. Its not who I am.
TheSOB88 17y ago
Something that I haven't seen mentioned: working a day job and living extremely frugally for a coupla years, then using the savings to fund your venture. You've already started your company, but perhaps it would be better in the long run to stop now and start again in a few years. It'd sure give you time to think about your ideas.
apinstein 17y ago
If surfing is that important to you, your health, and your sanity, then I'd say move. Regret is painful! But just don't straddle startup + job for too long (more than 6 months). It just doesn't work. A startup without full time effort is practically a waste of time. It won't get the attention it deserves and is much more likely to stall out. Plus it really sucks to straddle like that. The other commenter about the super-frugal approach is pretty good advice. That's essentially what I've done 3x now. One right out of college with a monthly burn of ~$1000. Once after .com crash in NYC with a burn of about $2000. And once when I was single in Atlanta, about the same. $24k will get you a year of startup time at those kinds of burn rates. If after a year you can't generate cash flow for expenses or borrow against a strong pipeline then it's time to move on anyway. Also, don't do it alone. Ever. Just not a good idea. 2+ people minimum, 1 biz and 1 dev.

by rjurney 17y ago

skmurphy 17y ago

In life I've found three things I deeply care about so far: my wife, startups, and surfing. Why not pick wife, surfing, and one 40-50 hour a week job. Start a family. Start your company in your late 40's early 50's with some partners--there are a lot of people who become entrepreneurs at that age. In the interim save your money and your health. I worry that your current "stopping rule" from work is disabling injury.

rjurney 17y ago
I've tried this. Its not who I am.

TheSOB88 17y ago

Something that I haven't seen mentioned: working a day job and living extremely frugally for a coupla years, then using the savings to fund your venture. You've already started your company, but perhaps it would be better in the long run to stop now and start again in a few years. It'd sure give you time to think about your ideas.

apinstein 17y ago

If surfing is that important to you, your health, and your sanity, then I'd say move. Regret is painful! But just don't straddle startup + job for too long (more than 6 months). It just doesn't work. A startup without full time effort is practically a waste of time. It won't get the attention it deserves and is much more likely to stall out. Plus it really sucks to straddle like that. The other commenter about the super-frugal approach is pretty good advice. That's essentially what I've done 3x now. One right out of college with a monthly burn of ~$1000. Once after .com crash in NYC with a burn of about $2000. And once when I was single in Atlanta, about the same. $24k will get you a year of startup time at those kinds of burn rates. If after a year you can't generate cash flow for expenses or borrow against a strong pipeline then it's time to move on anyway. Also, don't do it alone. Ever. Just not a good idea. 2+ people minimum, 1 biz and 1 dev.