Comment From the article's author (Score 2) 217
Hi All,
I've been enjoying some of the posts - even the flames. However, I'd like to clarify some things that didn't fit into the published story.
Yes, the thought of making an obscene amount of money was most definitely appealing to me. I had my first dotcom start-up in 1994. I assume you are all familiar with HotJobs? Same premise - just a few years earlier. At the time, however, nobody was sure whether the Internet was a viable medium for making money. Additionally, I was a full-time college student.
The opportunity to be one of the first people -- and a high level person at that -- at a company with established industry veterans was extremely compelling. The job sounded perfect on paper, based on what I thought I wanted to do. I was going to have significant input into technical and strategic decisions for the company. Basically, my upside was limited because I wasn't a founder, but I thought the idea was great and knew that 3 MS Vets had deep pockets and good connections.
I wanted to kick ass during my first few weeks on the job. I guess I was convincing because the work started to pile up. The expression, "You can't see the forest for the trees," comes to mind. I was so immersed in what I was doing -- the immediacy, the urgency -- that I could no longer see the bigger picture. My girlfriend, friends, and parents were all right, but I figured (at the time) that they were so far removed, that they weren't in a position to accurately gauge what was happening.
I think that many of you are victims of the same crap and haven't yet let go of the bitterness and anger. It's easy to pin my decision-making process on greed or stupidity. It's also easy to think that the story is for pity. In retrospect, I absolutely made stupid decisions. That's not up for debate; I'm culpable. But the focus of the story isn't a plea for sympathy or well-wishing. Frankly, it's about losing the ability to be objectively introspective inasmuch as one can be objective about one's self..
Another thing that I'd like to point out is that I did call my CEO "a fucking asshole," and wasn't the meek techie in the corner. I stood up for myself verbally, but always delivered my work. I was made promises with regards to salary increases, bonuses, health insurance, etc. I accepted these promises at face value. Stupid? Probably, though I do think my situation was a bit extreme.
I have other things to do, but I hope that if you re-read the article with all of these points in mind, you'll take away something very different than you might have initially. I don't want your pity - the upshot of this experience is that I am increasingly convinced that I am now doing the right thing.
Illegitimi Non Carborundum.
-David Wadler
PS I think it's pretty disgusting that some of you revel in the misfortune of others. Walk a mile in their shoes and then decide if it's funny.
I've been enjoying some of the posts - even the flames. However, I'd like to clarify some things that didn't fit into the published story.
Yes, the thought of making an obscene amount of money was most definitely appealing to me. I had my first dotcom start-up in 1994. I assume you are all familiar with HotJobs? Same premise - just a few years earlier. At the time, however, nobody was sure whether the Internet was a viable medium for making money. Additionally, I was a full-time college student.
The opportunity to be one of the first people -- and a high level person at that -- at a company with established industry veterans was extremely compelling. The job sounded perfect on paper, based on what I thought I wanted to do. I was going to have significant input into technical and strategic decisions for the company. Basically, my upside was limited because I wasn't a founder, but I thought the idea was great and knew that 3 MS Vets had deep pockets and good connections.
I wanted to kick ass during my first few weeks on the job. I guess I was convincing because the work started to pile up. The expression, "You can't see the forest for the trees," comes to mind. I was so immersed in what I was doing -- the immediacy, the urgency -- that I could no longer see the bigger picture. My girlfriend, friends, and parents were all right, but I figured (at the time) that they were so far removed, that they weren't in a position to accurately gauge what was happening.
I think that many of you are victims of the same crap and haven't yet let go of the bitterness and anger. It's easy to pin my decision-making process on greed or stupidity. It's also easy to think that the story is for pity. In retrospect, I absolutely made stupid decisions. That's not up for debate; I'm culpable. But the focus of the story isn't a plea for sympathy or well-wishing. Frankly, it's about losing the ability to be objectively introspective inasmuch as one can be objective about one's self..
Another thing that I'd like to point out is that I did call my CEO "a fucking asshole," and wasn't the meek techie in the corner. I stood up for myself verbally, but always delivered my work. I was made promises with regards to salary increases, bonuses, health insurance, etc. I accepted these promises at face value. Stupid? Probably, though I do think my situation was a bit extreme.
I have other things to do, but I hope that if you re-read the article with all of these points in mind, you'll take away something very different than you might have initially. I don't want your pity - the upshot of this experience is that I am increasingly convinced that I am now doing the right thing.
Illegitimi Non Carborundum.
-David Wadler
PS I think it's pretty disgusting that some of you revel in the misfortune of others. Walk a mile in their shoes and then decide if it's funny.
