Re:Shark Eats Entrepreneur Alive
by rbanffy on Thursday October 08, 2009 @09:21PM
(#870389)
I have a technique I used many times to train myself to resist better: I accept invitations to meals offered by real-estate companies.
They will employ every high-pressure tactic in the book and then some that are considered crimes against Humanity and in more civilized societies are punishable by death. You will be able to observe a sequence of increasingly confrontational salespeople, male and female, pretty and ugly, that seem hell-bent on selling you some nice time-share in a chain of resorts. You will also see others succumb and be applauded for making a really stupid business decision.
I advise you to do it as many times as it takes for you to master the game. You may consider yourself ready when you consistently beat up the final boss and get your prize (usually tickets for some tourist attraction). I particularly like to play rude paying more attention to the food than to the salesperson, interrupting and leaving the table to get more food.
Do it a couple times a year, just for the kick of it.
It's like an immersive videogame.
OTOH, your faith on Humanity may end up a bit scratched. That's a small price to pay for this kind of enlightenment.
Re:Shark Eats Entrepreneur Alive
by jacquesm on Thursday October 08, 2009 @01:07PM
(#869424)
The naivety of some people is just scary.
If you are being approached always be on your guard.
An 'investor' (I use the word lightly here ;) ) that wants to pressure you to do a deal is afraid you'll wise up, find something or that you'll back out. So, help them a bit and back out. On the spot.
A good relationship can be built slowly if there appears to be time pressure you will likely make a decision that's not to your advantage. Good decisions are made from a position of strength. Time pressure erodes that strength.
Re:Shark Eats Entrepreneur Alive
by synnik on Thursday October 08, 2009 @02:27PM
(#869601)
If someone will not talk to your co-founder, that is a huge red flag.
Either they are taking advantage of you, and know the co-founder will catch on. Or they have issues with the co-founder, which tells you that the moment conflict arises, they will shut down communications and frustrate you.
A lack of communication is an immediate deal-breaker on any of my projects.
Re:Shark Eats Entrepreneur Alive
by arithmetic on Thursday October 08, 2009 @02:46PM
(#869645)
"The founder of XYZ, reportedly missing since last friday was found alive when some fishermen off the coast of ABC cut open the belly of a freshly captured shark. Along with the founder, the fisherman also found some kittens, a few pieces of string and a whiteboard marker."
Re:Shark Eats Entrepreneur Alive
by yumraj on Thursday October 08, 2009 @04:31PM
(#869894)
Programmers are standing by, please commit now!! If you commit within the next 24 hours, I will even take 10% stake for no extra charge. As a bonus offer we will even get rid of your co-founder.
What are you waiting for, commit now!!
-for the sense of humor challenged, the above is a joke-
Re:Shark Eats Entrepreneur Alive
by alain94040 on Thursday October 08, 2009 @01:11PM
(#869431)
Do you not agree that if the entrepreneur took the deal, it would kill his company? If so, a kill, in shark language, is appropriately described by eaten alive.
Re:Shark Eats Entrepreneur Alive
by amalcon on Thursday October 08, 2009 @01:51PM
(#869528)
He could give away 10% equity in exchange for absolutely nothing, and probably not die. He could, likewise, give away 10% equity in exchange for some offshore developers building something completely random, look at it, decide not to actually use it, and still probably not die.
Now, actually deciding to replace the active codebase with something that's terrible could kill his company, but that's down the road a bit.
Re:Shark Eats Entrepreneur Alive
by arithmetic on Thursday October 08, 2009 @02:02PM
(#869559)
It's not about the stake or the developers. The whole deal sounds fishy. Why won't the investor provide references? Why should the decision be made right away (next day or two)? Why shouldn't this person publicize the site?
When it looks too good (or too suspicious) to be true, it probably is.
Re:Shark Eats Entrepreneur Alive
by edw519 on Thursday October 08, 2009 @01:06PM
(#869422)
The simple fact that the entrepreneur knew to ask the question shows that he already knew the answer. He wants to go with his gut and reject this; he's just looking for a little vote of confidence.
Re:Shark Eats Entrepreneur Alive
by potatolicious on Thursday October 08, 2009 @01:53PM
(#869531)
If were the tech co-founder I'd dump this guy immediately. I presume he is in a biz-dev position - if he's too dumb or indecisive for this, he has no business being in... uh, business.
They will employ every high-pressure tactic in the book and then some that are considered crimes against Humanity and in more civilized societies are punishable by death. You will be able to observe a sequence of increasingly confrontational salespeople, male and female, pretty and ugly, that seem hell-bent on selling you some nice time-share in a chain of resorts. You will also see others succumb and be applauded for making a really stupid business decision.
I advise you to do it as many times as it takes for you to master the game. You may consider yourself ready when you consistently beat up the final boss and get your prize (usually tickets for some tourist attraction). I particularly like to play rude paying more attention to the food than to the salesperson, interrupting and leaving the table to get more food.
Do it a couple times a year, just for the kick of it.
It's like an immersive videogame.
OTOH, your faith on Humanity may end up a bit scratched. That's a small price to pay for this kind of enlightenment.
If you are being approached always be on your guard.
An 'investor' (I use the word lightly here ;) ) that wants to pressure you to do a deal is afraid you'll wise up, find something or that you'll back out. So, help them a bit and back out. On the spot.
A good relationship can be built slowly if there appears to be time pressure you will likely make a decision that's not to your advantage. Good decisions are made from a position of strength. Time pressure erodes that strength.
Either they are taking advantage of you, and know the co-founder will catch on. Or they have issues with the co-founder, which tells you that the moment conflict arises, they will shut down communications and frustrate you.
A lack of communication is an immediate deal-breaker on any of my projects.
That is equal parts terrifying and awe-inspiring for its sheer brazenness.
-for the sense of humor challenged, the above is a joke-
Then again, I suppose fewer people would read a post titled "Entrepeneur considers letting shark bite"...
Now, actually deciding to replace the active codebase with something that's terrible could kill his company, but that's down the road a bit.
Rewrite the site from scratch. No more technical resources. Sounds like a pretty good startup-killer to me.
I agree the 10% part is not the problem. It's the strategic change of direction into a dead-end that is.
Just asking for clarification here... Honestly sounds like a What The (Cluster) Fuck in the making...
When it looks too good (or too suspicious) to be true, it probably is.