Oh, and I gave birth to my daughter in silence all by myself on the couch. That was pretty intense too. While living in a squat, I also unfolded a dead guy starting to harden, to make sure we could later lay him down in a coffin. Life is full of strange adventures, I guess!
Removing from my budding startup team a highly motivated guy, bright, experienced in big companies... without damaging his ego AND without lying AND while being clear. If I can re-orient everyone I need to, as well as this guy until the end, I'd be so proud and happy! And I won't ever make enemies that way.
That was a very charged conversation emotionally, I was vulnerable and highly respectful, but still decisive and honest.
I refrained from exposing the case I had 'against' him to make the decision to move him from a potential cofounder role to an external advisory role. Instead, once decision was made, I committed for this to be as good as possible for everyone. I started bravely with the clear news, pointing out it had been my mistake to bring him on at that point.
I had taken serious time imagining his viewpoint. I talked about all the good he had brought to the project, for real, and all the good I valued about him, for real, and asked him to be an advisor (yes, he's been of value in that role, despite the hurt feelings).
What articles are/were hugely impactful for you?
On a given subject, what is the 'if you only read one' reference for you? Be it a video/real book/curated Twitter feed, whatever your medium. Thanks a lot for sharing!
You're certainly showing us what the original Jessica Livingston @YC rule means : no asshole, thank you for being a generous you ! Let's make this shine and inspire more YC alumni to become Advisors for this #epicbatch @startupschool
Annie Belis, brilliant researcher from France's most selective post doct was already doing this with her ensemble Kerylos in 1990. The site is in French though but the songs in Ancient Greek http://www.kerylos.fr/index.php
And here is a chorus, easier for our ears I guess http://youtu.be/R_KmlIX3aHc
Trying people out, yes absolutely no culture yet, a precise idea of what it should be though (company not set up yet). And that means to me live coherent with the whole purpose of the company itself, no 'that's just a job', really shared beliefs and values, even in not so public functions, be ready for transparency.
You might check couchsurfing.org for generally helpful folks in your place. And definitely Denmark is a welfare state, do check out the many helps. Good luck!
Yes, that is the underestimated main point.
I'm still living in one of the rare tech hostile desert though. Trying to get through that single no tech founder karma, because I'm starting up precisely to sell an app for 'relationship skills' or 'efficient non-violent communication', so clear abilities, values, and training in this would prevail over 'rock-star programming talent'.
Looking for ladies in tech too...
Door wide open for them to become cofounders, but I can understand risk-adverse people, after all I am in need of a complementary skill set ;)
Do you give me a chance?