Hacker News Reader

Comment by patio11 | Hacker News Reader

Which ad is your startup putting out?

Wanted. People (realistically, mostly men, but we live in enlightened times so we cloak reality in rhetoric) for programming. Low wages. Long hours, many in darkness, illuminated primarily by monitors. Maintenance of social life and health doubtful. Success extraordinarily unlikely. Riches beyond your wildest dreams in event of success.

Wanted. People who make things people pay for. Hours are not really remarkable. Engineering challenges are not really remarkable. Success is by no means assured but it is pretty likely. In the event of success, you'll do quite well but the honor and accolades will go to the one of the guys answering the other ad.

I kind of like ad #2 myself...

View on HN

   Luke: Listen, if you were to rescue her, the reward would be...
   Han Solo: What? 
   Luke: Well, more wealth than you can imagine!
   Han Solo: I don't know, I can *imagine* quite a bit.

Do you really think startups are the road to "riches beyond your wildest dreams"? Most of them get sold for finite amounts of cash, last time I checked. Typically, even key employees just get a few tens of thousands of dollars, and a stack of options that might be underwater before you exercise.

Becoming a millionaire is of course possible, but that barely gets you a down payment on a nice house in the Bay Area. This is very imaginable wealth.

You want to experience unimaginable wealth? Take a few thousand in savings and live in Laos for a while. Your wealth will literally be unimaginable to most of the natives you meet.

Excellent point about Laos. That place is amazing. A subway-sized sandwich for $1 on the street. People who spontaneously smile at you on the street. Beautiful nature all around you. Not only good for the pocketbook, but the psyche as well.

I burnt out working in China, saved money by teaching SAT prep in Beijing and then fully recovered my senses in Lao.

Typically, even key employees just get a few tens of thousands of dollars

Yep, once dilution is factored in... Basically unless you are a founder, equity should not be a factor in deciding whether to join a startup. Do it because you believe in the mission, do it because you want the experience, whatever. Not that a 5-figure cheque isn't nice, mind. I paid off all my student debt and did some traveling when a dotcom IPO'd (same dotcom paid me nearly as much as a severance package about a year later). But don't count on retiring even if everything goes perfectly.

Sounds like a good A/B test.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com