Silicon Valley is a beautiful area as is Tel Aviv and Singapore, but none of these places is going to change who you are or the decisions you make.
Working long hours is not a function of where you live. It's a choice.
I checked out the website for the company OP mentioned selling. The about page is not filled in with content, leading me to a conclusion that it's not really a fully thought through idea, let alone a company.
There's a moment in everyone's life when they either decide to start telling themselves the truth, i.e., I am not a hockey player (Guy Kawasaki reference from the linked article), or they continue to live a life of lies.
Perhaps moving to a new place will convince someone they need to be honest and make the right choices for themselves, but I suspect a dramatic move is not necessary to begin telling oneself the truth.
The company I sold was indeed fully thought out - it was ranked one of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in America by INC Magazine in 2011 ;)
It was sold by the buyer who bought it from me (acquired by a supplier), and I have no control over the content anymore, but as far as I can tell the site has been completely replaced at least twice since I sold it.
As far as "living a life of lies," I take offense, and I'm not sure where you come to this conclusion.
For me, living a life of lies meant telling myself I was meant to go to Stanford and run a Silicon Valley Startup.
Since I'm not sure there's any basis to the rest of your critique, I don't know how to respond to it.
> Working long hours is not a function of where you live. It's a choice.
Our choices are often informed, for better or worse, by those around us.
And, for those for whom compensation is attached directly to how many hours they spend working (when you think about it, this group includes plenty of people on "salary" as well), where you live and the hours you work are directly correlated.
I should also mention that the editors of the article cut what I felt was an important part - how I fell in love with the country, found that my social and family life was better here (In Israel), and how it was all about personal reasons for me - not professional...
I wish they'd left that bit in, but what can I do? ;)
Israel has potential but the state will do everything it can to keep non-jews from coming or working there. Yes, if you are highly skilled you can get up to 5 years of working visas but after that you will get kicked out, with no exceptions. I know this because it happened to me.
You will never have the option to get any sort of permanent residency in Israel (unless you are jewish). The game is rigged so that to get permanent residency you have to have lived for at least 10 years on any non-tourist visa. So in theory you could study there for 5 years, then work there and max out your 5 years working visa options... but they will make certain to kick you out just before. I have had friends that could not complete their phd's because if they were to be given another years student visa they could then apply for permanent residency.
Also, btw, unlike many other countries your work visa in Israel will be tied to one company. To work at any other company you will have to apply for another visa. This does not sound like much but it makes it difficult to move between companies.
> unlike many other countries your work visa in Israel will be tied to one company.
To be fair, this is true of the US too - in fact it's even tied to a particular location. To work at a different location within the same company requires a visa amendment (basically reapplication): http://www.murthy.com/2012/09/07/h1b-amendment-requirement-f...
It is hard to immigrate to Israel, that's the consequence of a democracy that must for survival's sake remain Jewish in majority.
There's an easy solution, though. Marry an Israeli. He or she doesn't have to be Jewish, either. There are millions of Muslim, Christian, Bahai, and even Buddhist Israeli passport holders.
I though something similar about Israel. It seems a great country when you are jewish, but when you are not, it seems that the silicon valley will be more open-minded.
I love Israel, have spent a lot of time there (not working), but my understanding is that it's tough for a gentile and WASP like me to get a resident visa.
I feel like this post opens more questions than it tries to answer:
* Ultimately, why he didn't like SV?
* Was there a specific reason for choosing Tel Aviv, over say Berlin or Sydney? (Girlfriend? Is he an Israeli citizen?)
Some quotes are correct only if you frame them, for example: if you’ re passionate enough about your project, you can make it happen anywhere - Care to try in Greece, Nigeria, Syria?
Also, I didn't understand too much about his profile: In the beginning seems like he was a very successful entrepreneur who turned into a VC, insinuating that he made lots of money (== success). Then it gives me the impression that he didn't had a great run.
Some quotes are correct only if you frame them, for example: if you’ re passionate enough about your project, you can make it happen anywhere - Care to try in Greece, Nigeria, Syria?
I know there's a war in Syria at the moment. But what's going on in Greece and Nigeria?
Sorry about that, the editors cut a lot of explanation because the article was too long. There's more info about me at http://jle.vi if you're interested.
Singapore and Israel are indeed interesting and good places to place your startup. Lots of talent, money, great atmosphere. Israel has the highest amount of PhDs per capita within the relevant areas. Singapore have very beneficial tax regulation and a highly educated population.
Great post. I always felt that in SV and SF startups promote an unhealthy lifestyle, and I don't want to go there because of that. I want to be a successful entrepreneur, but I don't want to sacrifice everything in order to make millions or billions of dollars and magazine covers.
How did you like the INSEAD Singapore experience? What did you intend to gain from it (coming from an entrepreneurial background and returning to it once you completed) and did you succeed in doing so?
INSEAD Singapore was a total blast. Really really fun. But in retrospect, I think I enjoyed the French campus more. Maybe it was because I went towards the end, when there wasn't as much school work and I already had built up relationships, but I felt that my quality of life was better in France (ironically). My friends and I lived in a tiny 250 year old town and drove through the forrest to class every day, our class parties were in huge Chateaus in rural France... it was just brilliant.
If you're considering going to INSEAD, I say GO FOR IT - best year of my life thus far - but make sure you spend at least 4 months on each campus, that's the best way to do it.
I went to learn how to turn small companies into big companies, to learn business fundamentals like finance and accounting that are so often overlooked, and to get some of the managerial skills I felt I missed out on by being an entrepreneur. When your name is on the door, you tend to think that people will just follow and listen to you, but it doesn't work that way.
I think I accomplished what I set out to, and then some. I gained a solid foundation in all the core business subjects, expanded my understanding, picked up some useful new skills, and built an incredible global network. I also had a total blast and traveled to 23 countries. Not a bad use of 1 year of your life, in my opinion.
Israel used to be #2, next to Silicon Valley, in VC fund per capita... but that was 5 years ago. It's now 3 or 4. I'm speaking from memory of some recent gartner reports on VC funding globally.
[+] [-] brianmcdonough|12 years ago|reply
Working long hours is not a function of where you live. It's a choice.
I checked out the website for the company OP mentioned selling. The about page is not filled in with content, leading me to a conclusion that it's not really a fully thought through idea, let alone a company.
There's a moment in everyone's life when they either decide to start telling themselves the truth, i.e., I am not a hockey player (Guy Kawasaki reference from the linked article), or they continue to live a life of lies.
Perhaps moving to a new place will convince someone they need to be honest and make the right choices for themselves, but I suspect a dramatic move is not necessary to begin telling oneself the truth.
[+] [-] entreprenewer|12 years ago|reply
It was sold by the buyer who bought it from me (acquired by a supplier), and I have no control over the content anymore, but as far as I can tell the site has been completely replaced at least twice since I sold it.
As far as "living a life of lies," I take offense, and I'm not sure where you come to this conclusion.
For me, living a life of lies meant telling myself I was meant to go to Stanford and run a Silicon Valley Startup.
Since I'm not sure there's any basis to the rest of your critique, I don't know how to respond to it.
[+] [-] bri3d|12 years ago|reply
Our choices are often informed, for better or worse, by those around us.
And, for those for whom compensation is attached directly to how many hours they spend working (when you think about it, this group includes plenty of people on "salary" as well), where you live and the hours you work are directly correlated.
[+] [-] entreprenewer|12 years ago|reply
I wish they'd left that bit in, but what can I do? ;)
[+] [-] mathattack|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cyphunk|12 years ago|reply
You will never have the option to get any sort of permanent residency in Israel (unless you are jewish). The game is rigged so that to get permanent residency you have to have lived for at least 10 years on any non-tourist visa. So in theory you could study there for 5 years, then work there and max out your 5 years working visa options... but they will make certain to kick you out just before. I have had friends that could not complete their phd's because if they were to be given another years student visa they could then apply for permanent residency.
Also, btw, unlike many other countries your work visa in Israel will be tied to one company. To work at any other company you will have to apply for another visa. This does not sound like much but it makes it difficult to move between companies.
[+] [-] klipt|12 years ago|reply
To be fair, this is true of the US too - in fact it's even tied to a particular location. To work at a different location within the same company requires a visa amendment (basically reapplication): http://www.murthy.com/2012/09/07/h1b-amendment-requirement-f...
[+] [-] entreprenewer|12 years ago|reply
There's an easy solution, though. Marry an Israeli. He or she doesn't have to be Jewish, either. There are millions of Muslim, Christian, Bahai, and even Buddhist Israeli passport holders.
[+] [-] hartator|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] supersystem|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] wyclif|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] atmosx|12 years ago|reply
* Ultimately, why he didn't like SV?
* Was there a specific reason for choosing Tel Aviv, over say Berlin or Sydney? (Girlfriend? Is he an Israeli citizen?)
Some quotes are correct only if you frame them, for example: if you’ re passionate enough about your project, you can make it happen anywhere - Care to try in Greece, Nigeria, Syria?
Also, I didn't understand too much about his profile: In the beginning seems like he was a very successful entrepreneur who turned into a VC, insinuating that he made lots of money (== success). Then it gives me the impression that he didn't had a great run.
Anyway, wish him all the best.
[+] [-] eaurouge|12 years ago|reply
I know there's a war in Syria at the moment. But what's going on in Greece and Nigeria?
[+] [-] entreprenewer|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ThomPete|12 years ago|reply
My heart belongs to NY though :)
[+] [-] prostoalex|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] FD3SA|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] smacktoward|12 years ago|reply
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_YF-12
It never got beyond the prototype stage, though.
[+] [-] entreprenewer|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] angersock|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pmcpinto|12 years ago|reply
Life is not just money and fame.
[+] [-] cylinder|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] entreprenewer|12 years ago|reply
If you're considering going to INSEAD, I say GO FOR IT - best year of my life thus far - but make sure you spend at least 4 months on each campus, that's the best way to do it.
[+] [-] entreprenewer|12 years ago|reply
I went to learn how to turn small companies into big companies, to learn business fundamentals like finance and accounting that are so often overlooked, and to get some of the managerial skills I felt I missed out on by being an entrepreneur. When your name is on the door, you tend to think that people will just follow and listen to you, but it doesn't work that way.
I think I accomplished what I set out to, and then some. I gained a solid foundation in all the core business subjects, expanded my understanding, picked up some useful new skills, and built an incredible global network. I also had a total blast and traveled to 23 countries. Not a bad use of 1 year of your life, in my opinion.
[+] [-] bocalogic|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] entreprenewer|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] richardjordan|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] prht|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] prht|12 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] derwiki|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] entreprenewer|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cyphunk|12 years ago|reply
[+] [-] maaku|12 years ago|reply