by nischalshetty on 12/2/11, 4:02 PM with 46 comments
If you built a startup and have sold it, how has life been after that? Did you start another or have you retired? Do you like it now or would you prefer the pre-acquisition life of yours?
by geophile on 12/2/11, 5:32 PM
2) Acquisition: Stayed with the company for a year until they changed their minds and discarded what we had built, (this was the dotcom era, but we weren't a dotcom). I put the money in the bank.
3) Acquisition: Again, after I left for my next startup. Money went to the bank.
4) Acquisition: Stayed around for 3+ years until the PHBs took over cmopletely. Went to another startup. Put the money in the bank.
I've been amazingly lucky with my startups. Financially, each one made my life more comfortable, built a nest egg, helped pay for my kids' education. I keep saying "this is my last startup", but I keep going back. I am now in a position that I could "retire", but I'm at startup #5. This is my last one, this time for sure. If/when I do retire, I'll still be hacking interesting software, even if it's not for a company.
by jgilliam on 12/2/11, 6:02 PM
And having done a few startups, I also had the confidence to not need anyone else to tell me it was a good idea. I just needed to build something customers would pay for. Those can be two very different things.
by tristan_louis on 12/2/11, 4:48 PM
I guess not much :)
One thing selling did is give me a degree of financial freedom I didn't have before which is a big change. For example, my current startup (Keepskor, currently is stealth mode) is currently completely self-funded and will remain so until we open our doors publicly. I wouldn't be able to do that if I hadn't sold other companies before.
by bryanlarsen on 12/2/11, 6:51 PM
by diego on 12/2/11, 5:14 PM
I work to:
- make an impact in other people's lives.
- earn respect and recognition.
- do something interesting and challenging.
- learn new skills (I never want to stop learning).
I "could stop anytime I wanted to" but I never do. I don't want to.
by huhtenberg on 12/2/11, 4:47 PM
by zbruhnke on 12/2/11, 7:57 PM
Though mine was a relatively small exit in comparison to some of these 9 and ten figure behemoths you hear about.
I thought I would not work for 3 or 4 years, that did not even last three or four months. But I still made time for fun in there too.
I was barely old enough to drink so I spent some time (and money) doing some stupid things (bought a bar once while I was hammered). Then I spent some time helping my dad's company get off the ground and primed for acquisition and now I am on to my 3rd startup.
Life only changed for me in the sense that I have less to worry about. As a whole I am still the same person and I still live basically the same.
I don't live a lavish lifestyle and I budget and save money like everyone else. I own a modest home and I drive a car which in not special (3 series).
I hope that I'll keep working until I am no longer physically capable but the most important thing to me at this point is being happy with what I am doing and spending time with my family and friends.
by freemanindia on 12/2/11, 5:57 PM
went traveling
did massage school
set up a big art space in LA
tried to set up a media incubator in LA
made some large burningman structures
moved to india
worked in a startup as a coder again
did another incubator
set up another art space
...
I find that not being 'hungry' has reduced my tolerance for spending time on activities which don't seem important. This can make me an awkward partner in some situations because the pursuit of money is a very good unifier.
Getting clarity on what I feel is important has been a much longer and more rewarding process than I expected.
by jasonkolb on 12/2/11, 5:17 PM
As a coder, it landed me my dream job :)
by xrd on 12/2/11, 4:39 PM
by cottonseed on 12/2/11, 4:36 PM
by jumby on 12/2/11, 4:29 PM
by brianobush on 12/2/11, 4:59 PM
by earle on 12/2/11, 4:20 PM
by itmag on 12/2/11, 4:54 PM