4 ms·

>The reason for this is that the prospect of future wealth, rather than current income and working conditions, is the main driver for people to stay in the busi

by lukasm 11y ago

>The reason for this is that the prospect of future wealth, rather than current income and working conditions, is the main driver for people to stay in the business: low-level drug sellers forgo current income for (uncertain) future wealth. That's description of statups.

deleted 11y ago
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pcr0 11y ago
There's a difference though. With a startup, you're practically working for yourself. In academia, you end up having to do a lot of ad hoc work for other people.
benihana 11y ago
Betting on the future is a pretty common tactic in all aspects of life.
stared 11y ago
With startups, you can pivot (with academia you can too, but it's rather 3-5 years). With startups, you can fail (and try again); in academia, if you fail, you fail. In short: with startups, if something is not working (or you totally lost belief in it), you can quit a project without quitting startups for good. In academia, if you want to stay, you often need to stay in a miserable conditions 1-3 more years (e.g. to finish PhD, postdoc, etc), just not to get kicked out for good. Moreover, with startups, you can start your group being 20, without anyone's blessing.
- rsfern 11y ago
  I have several friends who have successfully navigated switching research groups and even departments in the middle of their PhD work. I also know a few who didn't manage such a graceful transition, but it's definitely possible to pivot during the PhD without giving up on the degree and research career.
  - stared 11y ago
    Perhaps it's possible under some circumstances. But I spent 3 years more than I wished to (as I see it now, I should have quitted, but by that time I thought that academia was the only intellectually stimulating option). Change universities (Europe) would cost me at least a year, plus scrapping all previous progress. Plus, with getting a poor recommendation letter (more than likely when resigning) I would need to go a tier down. I envied software engineers, who (if things do not work) could change their place in mater of weeks... and have money to support them for much longer, if there were need. I know people who change, but it was never a trivial thing. (Maybe except when within a department.) Now (living as a freelancer) I lover the freedom and flexibility. And, curiously enough, I get more of intellectual inspiration.
- nhstanley 11y ago
  Not my opinion, but what I think lukasm was getting at is that a majority of players in the startup game aren't VCs or founders, but suckers taking low wages and/or options and/or insane hours on the promise of a big future payout that never comes.

by lukasm 11y ago

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

pcr0 11y ago

There's a difference though. With a startup, you're practically working for yourself. In academia, you end up having to do a lot of ad hoc work for other people.

benihana 11y ago

Betting on the future is a pretty common tactic in all aspects of life.

stared 11y ago

With startups, you can pivot (with academia you can too, but it's rather 3-5 years). With startups, you can fail (and try again); in academia, if you fail, you fail. In short: with startups, if something is not working (or you totally lost belief in it), you can quit a project without quitting startups for good. In academia, if you want to stay, you often need to stay in a miserable conditions 1-3 more years (e.g. to finish PhD, postdoc, etc), just not to get kicked out for good. Moreover, with startups, you can start your group being 20, without anyone's blessing.

rsfern 11y ago
I have several friends who have successfully navigated switching research groups and even departments in the middle of their PhD work. I also know a few who didn't manage such a graceful transition, but it's definitely possible to pivot during the PhD without giving up on the degree and research career.
- stared 11y ago
  Perhaps it's possible under some circumstances. But I spent 3 years more than I wished to (as I see it now, I should have quitted, but by that time I thought that academia was the only intellectually stimulating option). Change universities (Europe) would cost me at least a year, plus scrapping all previous progress. Plus, with getting a poor recommendation letter (more than likely when resigning) I would need to go a tier down. I envied software engineers, who (if things do not work) could change their place in mater of weeks... and have money to support them for much longer, if there were need. I know people who change, but it was never a trivial thing. (Maybe except when within a department.) Now (living as a freelancer) I lover the freedom and flexibility. And, curiously enough, I get more of intellectual inspiration.
nhstanley 11y ago
Not my opinion, but what I think lukasm was getting at is that a majority of players in the startup game aren't VCs or founders, but suckers taking low wages and/or options and/or insane hours on the promise of a big future payout that never comes.