This December, I took a deep breath and jumped. I left a great job at a great company, working on cool projects with fun people, and executed a perfect swan dive back into the tech startup blender.
Now why would a thirty-something refugee from the tech bubble with a wife, two young kids, and a mortgage give up a good salary and stable, interesting job for the stress, uncertainty, and heavier workload of a new startup?
For me, it's all about aligning outcomes with effort. In a very early stage startup, the link between "what is about to happen" and "what am I doing" is as close to direct as you can possibly get. The outcome for the company is directly tied to what you're doing and how well you're doing it: no excuses, and no wiggle room. Naturally, there are external risks (like being run over by a company so big they barely notice the bump), you see the results of your effort clearly.
Working for a BigCo, Inc. is very different. Expending effort in a large company is like pulling on a bungie cord attached to a rock. Pull moderately, and nothing happens. Pull a little more, and the the rock comes along, but it tends to wiggle around in directions you don't intend. Yank really hard, and the rock has an annoying tendency to fly up and smack you in the head.
Now replace the bungie cord with a stick attached to the weight. You pull a little, the weight moves a little. You pull a lot, the weight moves a lot. You push, and the weight moves the opposite direction. The outcome is directly tied to your effort.
To be fair, my last company wasn't quite to the "bungie cord" stage. But when a former colleague approached me about his idea for a startup, I was drawn back in again.
Of course, to (ahem) stretch the analogy, sticks do tend to break more easily, but hey: that's the risk you take.
1 comment:
Hey Tim,
I came to your blog from your posting about thank you cards. First congrats on taking the leap into business ownership. I left a big company, good job, etc last fall to start my own financial services firm. It is the best move I have ever made. Regarding the thank you notes, I believe they are critical to your business and personal life. I was introduced to an internet based company to help me send cards. Go to www.sendoutcards.com/18097 to find out more. You can send 1000's of actual cards (mailed from Utah) using your own handwriting as a font. It is easy, quick and much less expensive than using store bought cards. When I help a family with one of my products I send a gift card (typically Starbucks) or brownies using the service.
Check it out and tell me what you think.
Congrats again on the leap. I also have two kids and a wife so I know the risk you took.
Best regards,
John
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