Comments on What Mighty Mouse Has Learned: So, you're gonna code the whole thing, do the serv...

Having done a ton of startups, you're high if you ...

2008-08-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

Having done a ton of startups, you're high if you think anybody gives a shit what a coder wants. If you talked weren't a founder to being with and came in with this set of demands, every company on the planet would tell you to pound sand. Even if you were a founder and wanted half this crap, any VC on the planet would tell you to pound sand.

So, if you're content to found it all and never go for outside funding, you're welcome to all that stuff (and a pony, too--you deserve it, after all). If you're a non-founding coder interviewing for a job and asking for all that, you're high.

I would not rate a board position nearly as highly...

2008-08-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

I would not rate a board position nearly as highly as you do and it comes with a load of responsibility. Once you are on the board you are responsible (legally) for liabilities of the company, illegal activity by other company members, etc.

Being on the board of directors can be incredibly distracting and time consuming. As the lead developer, you should be focused on helping grow the company, not the bureaucracy or even the strategic direction of the company.

You are a coder right? not a CEO

trading in equity is the most expensive asset you ...

2008-08-27T05:55:00.000-07:00

trading in equity is the most expensive asset you can mess with. If the idea is worth anything, carve it into small pieces and have separate developers code for you, then integrate it yourself. http://theprofitgenie.blogspot.com.

Then, before you start selling, learn how to mark products up profitably. Most of us SME types just kinda jump in there, years later we burn out stress and overwork.

learn how to make a profit first. Then find people who want you product. Even better, before you invent something, find out what people want and rather sell them that.

Hey there Mighty Mouse,Interesting post, with some...

2008-08-27T03:36:00.000-07:00

Hey there Mighty Mouse,

Interesting post, with some great ideas. However, some points could be a little overreaching for most people, unless they really are the next Larry Page or Mark Zuckerberg or whatever.

Point 1: Negotiating Position:
People who own 10-20% of a company generally do not dictate terms to the other 80-90% (unless they’ve a real BSD, as defined here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liar%27s_Poker). That said, you are 100% right that whatever terms people agree on must be fair and balanced (considering the relative positions of the parties). True dat!

Point 2: Deferred Salary:
You can write whatever you want in the agreement, because it doesn’t mean sh*t. Make it a million dollars a year, it doesn't matter. F*ck, appoint yourself “I’m Dr. Evil Monkey Biyatch” and pay yourself $1 billion per year, it just doesn't mean sh*t. Why? Because if you primates ever get to a spot where you need to, and are able to, raise venture capital then your entire “how many angels can you fit on the head of a pin debate” and agreement will be torn up and a shiny new agreement, written by the VC’s lawyers, will be shoved right up your little monkey asses (and VCs don’t used lube). How ya like 'dem bananas?!

Ok, back to seriousness. If the point is: Negotiate a fair and balanced deal BEFORE you get to work, do it in writing, and use a competent lawyer, then I agree 100%. I just urge some caution and discretion is all. Why? Because I just had to cut loose a young guy who overplayed his hand based on some advice he was receiving, possibly from a blog like this, possibly even from this blog.

It’s the same as in poker, politics or other games, you can reach too far. And if you do, the other guy notices, you’re f*cked. I think it was said best by Tony Soprano, about 30 seconds into this audio clip: http://chrisco.soup.io/post/4854879/sopranos-dialogue. Recent example: America and Russia: America overplayed it’s hand, Russia called the bluff. Whatcha gonna do now, ‘Merica? Nothin.’ Now Russia is in Georgia and America looks stupid (plus has possibly started a new cold war). Welcome to the new new world order, Biyatch!

Cheers,
chrisco

a question, what would you say to somebody that ha...

2008-08-27T03:20:00.000-07:00

a question, what would you say to somebody that has been involved with a company for 5 years, accomplished the sweat equity and knows the books from start to finish. the company is suffering profitabily and future sales look risky. the problem lies with potential. the company is amazingly innovative, brimming with foresight and has the lock on certain aspects of the market. i have 'phantom stock options' which are not truly ownership stakes. if i stay, which is debatable, what do i negotiate for? is a lawyer the best option?

Thank you, very useful! Especially since I begun c...

2008-08-27T01:35:00.000-07:00

Thank you, very useful! Especially since I begun coding the whole thing just last week :)

How does a mouse know all this? How come you can t...

2008-08-26T23:03:00.000-07:00

How does a mouse know all this? How come you can type?!

If they don't have the money to pay you, you're no...

2008-08-26T21:38:00.000-07:00

If they don't have the money to pay you, you're not an employee, you're a founder and you get the same deal that they get.

If they balk, suggest that they find another code monkey while you find another biz monkey and the see who ends up with the bananas.

"Hiring any code monkey" is a fantastic way to fai...

2008-08-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

"Hiring any code monkey" is a fantastic way to fail. - Billco

they're more the exception that the rule, but don't forget about digg

Well now that depends... if it's a small startup c...

2008-08-26T20:35:00.000-07:00

Well now that depends... if it's a small startup company, set up by a bunch of friends/ex-coworkers, then the developer should definitely get their piece of the pie.

"Hiring any code monkey" is a fantastic way to fail. It's better to give your good developer a chunk of the action, than to hire some MCSE douchebag who couldn't care less about your company's success, as long as the cheques don't bounce. Giving away 10-15% of a million-dollar enterprise is better than keeping 100% of a flop.

10% of $100,000 is $10,000, not $1,000. Unless I'm...

2008-08-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

10% of $100,000 is $10,000, not $1,000. Unless I'm missing some invisible extra factor of 10% somewhere.

Yep, sure, go right ahead and do this. They'll la...

2008-08-26T18:33:00.001-07:00

Yep, sure, go right ahead and do this. They'll laugh their ass off at you, tell you to get lost, then go hire some other code monkey.

Start your own company. That is basically what you...

2008-08-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

Start your own company. That is basically what you are asking for... what do the others get for actually *putting up cash*?

sheesh.

"Negotiate at least a 1-3% salary increase for eac...

2008-08-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

"Negotiate at least a 1-3% salary increase for each of the deferred salary years."

That sounds pretty low to me, especially if you're the guy who built the product for the past four years. No?

I found that low for me right now, even though I'm not doing anything!

Otherwise, great writing! It saddens me though that a lot of people are greedy and take advantage of situations like that. I'm more of the kind to let go and just try to be nice.