Compare this to Batch. Batch uses Facebook exclusively and doesn't communicate that people are "following" you when they sign up (or to use Facebook terms, they don't indicate that people have become your friend either, they simply say they've joined Batch). They just assume that you have a relationship because you authenticate with a platform that already says you do. Very straight forward.
This is very similar to Oink's behavior, but far far less presumptuous in the way it communicates. Personally, I was thankful that Batch saved me the work of curating my network. But if you use Oink's language/behavior you have an app that says I followed someone when all I did was sign up? They almost immediately lose my trust. Not a good way to start the relationship with me.
Lots of us have gotten friends and friends of friends to swab and shouted from the rooftops to try and get people to contribute to the pool. Many are also creating drives for people to register. There isn't a lack of action - but there can always be more and we will continue to push.
Not sure how big, but I would actually say it hasn't been fast. Magento has been in existence in some form for almost 10 years, starting as a product they used with consulting clients. This has been a loooong road for the Varien team.
This is a really good point. Also - as a startup, we typically got better candidates who came through our investors. Certain type of candidate was the one that knew where to look.
If you're in Los Angeles / SoCal - talk to Mark Suster at GRP Ventures. He's communicated that just about everyone in his portfolio is hiring.
I love these types of posts. People forget this is a long term game. I can't help but think that people who think a startup necessitates an unsustainable lifestyle are focused on short term gain. It is not two years make or break for the simple reason that when you're done with the first two years you will likely be at it again. The people I know who understand work-life balance have a keen eye focused on the long term. In my opinion, the more that filters into their business the better. It's all about the long term value to you, to your employees, to your customers, and to your industry.
I agree with your point - not everyone needs work life balance; however, I think what the Author is saying is it's far from honorable to lead a company in that fashion. The culture of the company is largely influenced by the behavior of its leaders. If Seth's lifestyle is a point of pride it's likely to be poisonous in the longterm for the company.
While I agree there that sharing this information can be informative to entrepreneurs, really the onus is on us to do due diligence on the investors before taking money.
Seconded. I suggest getting on an even keel before making yourself obligated to others. Having a good routine that keeps the level of social interaction normal and healthy is a very very good thing to have before taking on investors' money. The stress only increases :-)
I recently moved to LA where I know very few people. Building up friendships and contacts has been a pretty high priority. I've tried to make time for meet-ups. Following up with individuals afterwards to get coffee, beer, play sports has been the most successful way for me build a new network.
I was horribly inefficient when just getting out of college (I'm 26, 4 years out). I largely owe my improvement of work-life balance/awareness to my better-half; I think I'd still be struggling with it if I were single.
This is a generalization, but from what I can see, the same thing happens in grad-school students as in startups. People that are coming directly out of undergrad have less of a sense of work-life balance and how important and helpful it can be to your productivity and happiness.
At the outset as an entrepreneur there was a lot of calibrating and learning what was reasonable. We have a very sane and wonderfully paced life despite me founding and working on a startup for the past three years.
Entrepreneurs have a lot to prove - to investors, to the market, to customers. Time put in does not prove anything to anyone. Especially not your spouse.
Working reasonable hours (to me) is a sign of a healthy work environment, be it a startup or large corporation. Working under conditions of extreme uncertainty to offer a new product or service doesn't necessarily mean that all those hours together are going to be lost.