Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself

Re:Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself by madballster on Monday May 18, 2020 @08:42AM (#23221579)

I commend you for your personal ambition, but sometimes getting a different perspective can be a good thing. Your complaint basically is that you are having a hard time getting a VC investment for your (otherwise perfectly fine) running business that feeds a lot of mouths and - while not making a fortune - makes money.

On a certain level that's akin to a tenured professor with a perfectly fine University career complaining he has little chance of ever being awarded the Nobel Prize.

Ambition is great, but do not let it cloud your sense of pride in your achievements. If you're not content being 90th percentile, what gives you confidence you'd be happier being 99.9th percentile?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself by jcampbell1 on Monday May 18, 2020 @09:32AM (#23222065)

> On a certain level that's akin to a tenured professor

You clearly haven’t run a small business. It’s more like being a dairy farmer where if you ever fail to make hay, every thing dies. There are good times and bad, but you are never free from the sword of Damocles.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Dear open source devs how do you sustain yourself by madballster on Tuesday May 19, 2020 @03:27PM (#23239032)

I have, for over 10 years. Nobody ever promised me as an entrepreneur it would be a fun and secure ride start to finish. It wasn't, yet I am very happy and content.

For those who do not like the "risky" nature of it there are stable careers to choose from with monthly paychecks and health insurance.

Who ever guaranteed each and every hardworking software/tech business owner a $100 million exit event handed to them on a silver plate by a VC firm? Entitlement is not a path to happiness.

[ Parent | on HN ]