I see what he is saying about the consulting helping parse.ly succeed, but I do not see him prioritizing it over the startup. I believe you can do other things & should if you have to, but minimally. Other things often become the thing, because of the decrease in focus on the original thing.
"no one ever gives you money when you need it!"
It's true, most people are bandwagoners in life & even more so when it comes to investing funds. Which of course builds up the "F U" mentality in those vested in a venture toward tardy supporters. But at the end of the day cash is cash...
"Fact: America’s broken healthcare system is harmful to entrepreneurs."
I won't even get started on my health insurance woes...
Actually, I'd like to get you started because I think this is important. I just spent some time on the phone with a technologist who was considering leaving his full-time job to join Dreamit Ventures (Parse.ly's original incubator which just moved from Philly to NYC). The #1 reason he couldn't bring himself to do it so far: the enormous healthcare cost he would have to pay. I couldn't really argue with him. I was paying $1000/mo. in healthcare for the last 12 months (paying for 2 people, me and my girlfriend). That plus the rent for my small 1BR in NYC basically ate 90% of my earnings in my first 4-5 months. If healthcare were free or subsidized, the story would have been very different. I wonder how many potential entrepreneurs decide not to leave their full-time job due to the healthcare reason.
I've been here with several things in life. While winging it has been the source of some "winning" in my life, it has also been the source of many losses.
I'm more of a creative mind/sales guy. I'm an okay web designer, with very minimal programming skills. I tried to develop a tech driven start up and handle everything on my own including the programming. I worked so long & hard trying to take care of things I wasn't skilled enough to do that I was too exhausted to maximize on my talents.
So, I would say focusing on your strengths is a key to success. Marcus Buckingham has nice insights on strengths. Check him out.
I am experiencing the awkwardness of a change in personal wealth as we speak.
I have a friend I met at 16 via a t-shirt venture. We would hang out & work on his company. As time progressed we would hang out off and on. After an extended gap in communication, I emailed him to get his number & he came by to pick me up.
We drove for about 15 to 20 minutes until we reached an office warehouse. He then told me, "welcome to his company". He had started what is now one of the country's top promotional products companies. He now owns a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, $3M home, and more.
I feel awkward around him & I think he feels the same at times. We are both entrepreneurs but he has had more success financially. I've since taken a major interest in philanthropy. I recently asked for a contribution toward my non-profit & it was amazingly awkward as well. LOL, I was sweating... I felt like a panhandler.
Lastly, when I ask how he's doing & about other things outside of business I feel fake. It's usually a general response as to not seem ungrateful as mentioned. But, I genuinely want to know.
I see what he is saying about the consulting helping parse.ly succeed, but I do not see him prioritizing it over the startup. I believe you can do other things & should if you have to, but minimally. Other things often become the thing, because of the decrease in focus on the original thing.
"no one ever gives you money when you need it!"
It's true, most people are bandwagoners in life & even more so when it comes to investing funds. Which of course builds up the "F U" mentality in those vested in a venture toward tardy supporters. But at the end of the day cash is cash...
"Fact: America’s broken healthcare system is harmful to entrepreneurs."
I won't even get started on my health insurance woes...