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In this thread http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=829583 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=829583 Jason from 37signals said they'd have a post that FU mone

In this thread http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=829583 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=829583 Jason from 37signals said they'd have a post that FU money is a myth. I hope this isn't it. The point of FU money isn't that you'd actually quit everything and walk away. Its about the ABILITY to do so. Once you reach this point everything else is about being able to make your own choices, not being backed into a corner because you have bills to pay.

natemartin 17y ago
I completely agree. FU money means that you have the freedom to work on what you want to work on. You can start any venture you want, launch whatever idea you want, and are free to take risks. FU money simply means you have a guaranteed salary, no matter what. It has nothing to do with retiring. And I think it's a completely valid dream to have.
wallflower 17y ago
> Jason from 37signals said they'd have a post that FU money is a myth. I can think of one example. Nico Mak from Nico Mak computing wrote the original WinZip. About 10 years ago, he was making about $1m/month in corporate license fees. I can almost guarantee he is on his own private island somewhere, living the anonymous rich life.
jasonfried 17y ago
"Once you reach this point everything else is about being able to make your own choices, not being backed into a corner because you have bills to pay." You're an individual. You can already make your own choices. My big problem with this whole "FU" money concept, and your thought I quoted above, is that people seem to think they need to get this opportunity from someone else. That someone else gives them the opportunity to do what they want to do. That someone else is the one who gives them the money. If you continue to think like this then that's exactly what'll happen - you'll be unable to make your own choices because you are waiting for someone else to make them for you. I do hope to post more on this shortly.
- pyre 17y ago
  If you're trying to say -- as a sub-post said -- "don't wait for a rich man to come and give you permission to pursue your dreams," then you're not looking at the whole picture. 'FU money' doesn't mean that you go down to 'Mojito Island' and sip drinks on the beach for the rest of your life. 'FU money' is money that says, "I'm set for life." After you have 'FU money' you don't have to worry about making tough choices to try and make ends meet. At that point, you can create another start-up or whatever it is you want to do, without needing to worry about becoming homeless at some point (or going into major debt). I posit this example: I like programming and working on web apps/etc. So I create a startup to use my passion to develop a cool and marketable idea. The idea takes off and someone wants my to cash out to the tune of $40M. Yes, I won't have my startup (i.e. baby) anymore, but I will also have the freedom to create another startup, or just to do development on whatever I like (without regard to whether or not it is marketable). In this case, I've given up my startup for the chance to free myself from having to say things like, "I better stop working on this cool idea because I have a family to feed." Or, "I really want to work on this idea, but my mom has cancer, needs constant care, and we can't afford to have someone looking after her."
- axod 17y ago
  >> "My big problem with this whole "FU" money concept, and your thought I quoted above, is that people seem to think they need to get this opportunity from someone else." What???? It's exactly the same as selling your product to customers. Only difference is there's one sale, and it's a big one.
- calambrac 17y ago
  My big problem with this whole "FU" money concept, and your thought I quoted above, is that people seem to think they need to get this opportunity from someone else. That makes no sense. Of course you need to get that opportunity from someone else: your customers, your family, your investors, or your buyer, whoever is handing you the money you need to meet your needs. At the end of the day, if someone else hasn't given it to you, you aren't getting it.
  - iamwil 17y ago

natemartin 17y ago

I completely agree. FU money means that you have the freedom to work on what you want to work on. You can start any venture you want, launch whatever idea you want, and are free to take risks. FU money simply means you have a guaranteed salary, no matter what. It has nothing to do with retiring. And I think it's a completely valid dream to have.

wallflower 17y ago

> Jason from 37signals said they'd have a post that FU money is a myth. I can think of one example. Nico Mak from Nico Mak computing wrote the original WinZip. About 10 years ago, he was making about $1m/month in corporate license fees. I can almost guarantee he is on his own private island somewhere, living the anonymous rich life.

jasonfried 17y ago

"Once you reach this point everything else is about being able to make your own choices, not being backed into a corner because you have bills to pay." You're an individual. You can already make your own choices. My big problem with this whole "FU" money concept, and your thought I quoted above, is that people seem to think they need to get this opportunity from someone else. That someone else gives them the opportunity to do what they want to do. That someone else is the one who gives them the money. If you continue to think like this then that's exactly what'll happen - you'll be unable to make your own choices because you are waiting for someone else to make them for you. I do hope to post more on this shortly.

pyre 17y ago
If you're trying to say -- as a sub-post said -- "don't wait for a rich man to come and give you permission to pursue your dreams," then you're not looking at the whole picture. 'FU money' doesn't mean that you go down to 'Mojito Island' and sip drinks on the beach for the rest of your life. 'FU money' is money that says, "I'm set for life." After you have 'FU money' you don't have to worry about making tough choices to try and make ends meet. At that point, you can create another start-up or whatever it is you want to do, without needing to worry about becoming homeless at some point (or going into major debt). I posit this example: I like programming and working on web apps/etc. So I create a startup to use my passion to develop a cool and marketable idea. The idea takes off and someone wants my to cash out to the tune of $40M. Yes, I won't have my startup (i.e. baby) anymore, but I will also have the freedom to create another startup, or just to do development on whatever I like (without regard to whether or not it is marketable). In this case, I've given up my startup for the chance to free myself from having to say things like, "I better stop working on this cool idea because I have a family to feed." Or, "I really want to work on this idea, but my mom has cancer, needs constant care, and we can't afford to have someone looking after her."
axod 17y ago
>> "My big problem with this whole "FU" money concept, and your thought I quoted above, is that people seem to think they need to get this opportunity from someone else." What???? It's exactly the same as selling your product to customers. Only difference is there's one sale, and it's a big one.
calambrac 17y ago
My big problem with this whole "FU" money concept, and your thought I quoted above, is that people seem to think they need to get this opportunity from someone else. That makes no sense. Of course you need to get that opportunity from someone else: your customers, your family, your investors, or your buyer, whoever is handing you the money you need to meet your needs. At the end of the day, if someone else hasn't given it to you, you aren't getting it.
- iamwil 17y ago