I guess my only question is how do you keep yourself from going broke while starting these projects. I've a chance to do some great work now, but it would lower my pay beneath what I can live on.
Oh, that’s a very good and difficult question. I’ve broken down many times myself and still go through tough periods. Maybe over time you just grow a bit thicker-skinned. But I can really imagine how hard it feels when you’re just starting out.
To be fair, though, it’s not necessarily easier in a venture-backed startup — maybe even harder. On top of the project risks and challenges, you also have to deal with investor pressures.
If you’re interested in diving deeper into this topic, I’d be happy to share more — but maybe if your question is a bit more detailed or specific.
My position is that I've been in a failing start-up for years. Public company, but has burned through all their investment and has reached its ending days spiral. Small amount of equity has declined to be worth next to nothing, passion for the work has declined, both myself and more broadly.
On a week of vacation leave, I went and helped an extended family member in their home business. It combines the best aspects of my past three jobs. High tech, optics, design and manufacture, it's hard, and it's fascinating. There's a clear path to profit, with demand. Might be weeks, might be months, but in the meantime I can't make enough to cover my costs.
I can't risk my family's security. Having loved out of my car while studying, despite over a decade passing, the memory is fresh.
A pay cut would be fine, worth it, but the risk feels so high.
evermike|5 months ago
To be fair, though, it’s not necessarily easier in a venture-backed startup — maybe even harder. On top of the project risks and challenges, you also have to deal with investor pressures.
If you’re interested in diving deeper into this topic, I’d be happy to share more — but maybe if your question is a bit more detailed or specific.
Prcmaker|5 months ago
On a week of vacation leave, I went and helped an extended family member in their home business. It combines the best aspects of my past three jobs. High tech, optics, design and manufacture, it's hard, and it's fascinating. There's a clear path to profit, with demand. Might be weeks, might be months, but in the meantime I can't make enough to cover my costs.
I can't risk my family's security. Having loved out of my car while studying, despite over a decade passing, the memory is fresh.
A pay cut would be fine, worth it, but the risk feels so high.