I highly recommend working at startups.
Google was my 11th startup.
My first was VisiCorp -- our product was the first spreadsheet, VisiCalc.
After that, having had experience at large companies and small, I joined early and left when they got too big.
Startups can't afford dead weight. You work with people who are very good at what they do, or you don't work there for long. I don't know of any startups in well established areas -- if it isn't cutting edge, you don't get funding. So you are always working on the latest stuff. Riding a tiny company through a big IPO where everyone you know is suddenly a millionaire is exciting, and I've had that privilege three times out of those 11.
Those who think job security comes with a large company are wrong. Those companies lay people off at the slightest market hiccup. Job security is in your resume. If the company dies, good people find new jobs very quickly here in Silicon Valley. We're made of startups, and this is the place where the biggest chunk of venture capital goes, year after year. There are other hot spots around the country, and I would advise people to move to where the investment has gone if they are interested in new technology (or in wealth).
The people on this list are the kind of people who will get paid to do things they enjoy doing.
When you are having fun and the bills are paid, everything else is just gravy on top.
You may also find that you enjoy doing several things that people pay good money for.
I was a well-paid biochemist who became a better-paid computer programmer.
Now I run my own Internet business, and I write books, I am an investor, and I teach the occasional college course.
Over your life you may find that several of your skills are valuable, and you may change careers several times, especially if you target small startups with a high chance of failure, but a high payoff for success. But in the meantime, you will be doing what you enjoy, and getting paid well for it.
On Sun, Jun 8, 2014 at 4:34 PM, John Griessen <john@industromatic.com> wrote:
On 06/08/2014 04:23 PM, Chowe wrote:Nahh... Like Matt said. I'm 57. Maybe I'm sounding bitter. I'm
For those reasons would you not recommend working for a startup?
mostly just being a little teachy, not bitter.
I've had fun times at two startups,
and also sort of felt used some of the time. The rest of my 15 years of employment
was at large established corps and I still had fun there also.
Your mileage may vary, and you need experience, and
employment is a bang up way to get it.
Then just ponder what you know of "how to" in business and in science
and decide what to do next. Business know hos lets you consider a larger range.
Always ask about operational details as you do your "jobs". If you don't do
too many hours of it on the company paid clock you may not even feel guilty
of breach of employment contract. Try to give your employers a good share
of your youthful energy and there will be no trouble.
All of Wall Street runs off your energy channeled into sellable vehicles
like stock options, company shares, preferred stock, etc. Don't
give them all of it either. Save some for collecting your thoughts and
forming a plan. Don't stay employed for too long. My 15 years was almost too
long. And then there is human sexuality, and related life events that blow up all these
plans...so get going while you can.
Very few have the traits to launch into tech business from a BS degree.
Not me for sure... I got jobs.To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/diybio/5394F320.8040907%40industromatic.com.
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