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It is not only that - even when you run your own company you can and often are effectively dependent on your clients/market ( especially that big client making

by gutnor 12y ago

It is not only that - even when you run your own company you can and often are effectively dependent on your clients/market ( especially that big client making 80% of your revenue ), or the need of your dependents ( you still need to pay your mortgage ) . That's a common complain here on HN of founder "selling out", "losing the original spirit", ... There is a cultural bias for entrepreneur, especially in the US (that's not a bad thing BTW), so struggling directly against the market is seen as more glamorous then through a corporate structure/middleman. In the end, you are as in control of your destiny as much as your wealth permit, no matter how you made that wealth in the first place.

MCRed 12y ago
Here's the difference: When the market says something, I can react to it and improve immediately. For me the market is large and variety, it's not like a few people make up %80 of the income. Working for a corporation, in the most recent case, meant dealing with people who were so incompetent that they did everything I can think of to interfere with us reacting to the market. You know the saying about how people with nothing to do create work for others? Well, when you're a software team and the boss has zero software skills, or understanding, or care, you end up in a lot of pointless meetings. Seriously, I would get interrupted 200 times in a day. (I counted once). So, more risk, less secure money, but avoiding harassment, verbal abuse, manipulation, gas lighting, and 200 interruptions a day is a huge positive trade off. For me at least. Plus I get to see my parents for a few months while I pick out the next place I'm going to live.
- gutnor 12y ago
  You are just comparing a shit job to a good job, and well the shit job is shittier than the good one. Let's run with your example - what would have been your boss opinion ? Or if your business is growing and you need more people, how will you treat them and how should they feel ? You have a good job in a hot sector, enjoy it, don't try to generalise to everybody or other sectors. Actually, the article is all about people that don't share our luck.

by gutnor 12y ago

MCRed 12y ago

Here's the difference: When the market says something, I can react to it and improve immediately. For me the market is large and variety, it's not like a few people make up %80 of the income. Working for a corporation, in the most recent case, meant dealing with people who were so incompetent that they did everything I can think of to interfere with us reacting to the market. You know the saying about how people with nothing to do create work for others? Well, when you're a software team and the boss has zero software skills, or understanding, or care, you end up in a lot of pointless meetings. Seriously, I would get interrupted 200 times in a day. (I counted once). So, more risk, less secure money, but avoiding harassment, verbal abuse, manipulation, gas lighting, and 200 interruptions a day is a huge positive trade off. For me at least. Plus I get to see my parents for a few months while I pick out the next place I'm going to live.

gutnor 12y ago
You are just comparing a shit job to a good job, and well the shit job is shittier than the good one. Let's run with your example - what would have been your boss opinion ? Or if your business is growing and you need more people, how will you treat them and how should they feel ? You have a good job in a hot sector, enjoy it, don't try to generalise to everybody or other sectors. Actually, the article is all about people that don't share our luck.