Re: Seeking Programmers.

I am looking to bring on board a couple of perl programmers to help launch Flying Car Television. It was suggested to me that I use jobs.perl.org, but I cannot agree to one of the rules for posting there. Update: It has been pointed out that perhaps I should mention that I am looking for people willing to work for company stock rather than cash.

Wait... let me get this straight... you want quality programmers to work for stock in a company that may or may not be worth anything, and not get paid in cash?

This is shades of a job I had where they told me "well... there's no bonuses here, but we give you options instead" At the end of my employment with them my 50,000 options were worth a whopping US$75. That works out to a penny and a half a piece.

There is a truck in my driveway. It ain't a turnip truck.. and I haven't fallen out of it lately...

I wouldn't take an offer like that. I don't think that the kind of talent you want is going to either. I'm willing to be wrong, but then again....

Let me give you some sage advice: get some funding, and hire your programmers. If you can't get the funding to be able to afford salaries for staff then maybe you need to reconsider your business plan. I honestly don't mean to be harsh, but I for one have already been burned once in my life by a poorly funded business with an business plan that didn't make sense to investors, and I wasn't the only one. I would hate to see somebody here at PM who hasn't my experience get burned as well. This is a bad time to be unemmployed.

Peter L. Berghold -- Unix Professional
Peter -at- Berghold -dot- Net; AOL IM redcowdawg Yahoo IM: blue_cowdawg

Comment on Re: Seeking Programmers.

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Re^2: Seeking Programmers. by ww (Archbishop) on Oct 31, 2005 at 18:37 UTC
++blue_cowdawg, and for OP, re blue_cowdawg's advice (from a former entrepreneur) about funding.... Starting up an under-funded company is a lot like smoking to commit suicide: it's not entirely reliable. But it IS at least (or so it seems to me) as likely to (figuratively, in this case) kill you and far more quickly! At that point not only are you "out" of your time and whatever you took from your pocket, but your employees are "out" in the cold without a blanket. That said, while this post has generated some interesting observations, I tend to agree with the purality who would delete it, as inappropriate to this site.	[reply]
Re^3: Seeking Programmers. by SkipHuffman (Monk) on Oct 31, 2005 at 19:21 UTC
If anyone were offering to quit a paying job to work with me on this, I would refuse them. I do not want to leave anyone out in the cold. If you are too risk averse, this is not for you. Thank you Skip	[reply]
Re^4: Seeking Programmers. by blue_cowdawg (Monsignor) on Oct 31, 2005 at 21:05 UTC
If anyone were offering to quit a paying job to work with me on this, I would refuse them. If you are too risk averse, this is not for you. That's some comfort. Good luck to you and your venture. I wish you no ill will, but I still am of the opinion you are going about this the wrong way on many counts. Peter L. Berghold -- Unix Professional Peter -at- Berghold -dot- Net; AOL IM redcowdawg Yahoo IM: blue_cowdawg	[reply]
Re^2: Seeking Programmers. by SkipHuffman (Monk) on Oct 31, 2005 at 19:16 UTC
You are describing exactly the situation I am trying to be clear about. Yes, there is risk. I think the idea is exciting, but then it is my idea, so you would expect that. I think it will be very successful, but again, it is my baby. I am not attempting to deceive anyone. If someone sees value in my vision and thinks that it is worth risking some of their valuable time, then I welcome them. If not, then we can pass with no animosity. I am not making any insane statements about "this is the next big thing and you will make a million dollars, get in on the ground floor now!" The idea is what it is. If it does not look like a good risk to you, than it is not a good risk for you. Others may (and have) disagreed. One small correction. I do not intend to compensate my people with options, but with actual stock. Which if we go belly up will be just as worthless, but prettier. thank you for youre comments Skip	[reply]