It’s 3 times now that I have been approached to join ‘their’ StartUp as a partner/ early employee/ co-founder.
Don’t know what you would have done but I have said NO all the time and will continue doing so in future too (in all such situations which am about to explain). Here’s my reasoning on why I did what I did.
Living in Bangalore has it’s own positives, this activity being one of the best for any entrepreneur! Here people approach you, talk to you, exchange cards and start discussing the opportunity of working together on an idea or a concept – in a Darshani/ Coffee Shop etc. Ok, may not be always but more often than not and more than in any other city.
Such interactions gives a mega boost to your ego, personality, auro, attitude and mostly to what you think of yourself. It shows that someone is actually willing to work with you and put his stakes depend on you. There might be more stake holders but then the 3rd person’s position (which is the case most of the times) is offered to you.
In all the 3 cases that I am referring to, we had normal chat in the evening and after a few days all the calls came to me during 9 – 10 pm. This piece of information may not be important at all but since there was a co-relation I am stating it here.
It’s not only the hope for a fortune that will lure you in getting into such collaborations, it’s lot dependent on the passion that you have about what you get into. Would you call someone else’s passion yours and gun for it, would you do it? I will not. Would you like to partner in chasing someone else’s dream? I may not.
Not sure about you, but I would not take such a decision so casually or in such a haste. Moreover I would also not take such a call with unknown people. I do not call a couple of meetings, ‘knowing’, given the risks/ consequences involved in taking such a step. I would rather work with people whom I have known for quite sometime personally OR have worked previously together to have an understanding of:
1. Whether the chemistry between us is worthwhile;
2. We get pissed off way too easily,
3. Professional understanding,
4. Commitment to make sacrifices in the current personal and professional lives,
5. Ego clashes; and last but not the least,
6. That self motivated attitude to keep running, come what may.
Am sure you cannot and never get this kind of understanding/ chemistry with new acquaintances.
Even in the recent Forbes Cover Story on the leading e-commerce company in India they are pointing that all co-founders and many employees in the top position are from IIT-D, Jwalamukhi Hostel. So what? Would you rather get people you know or unknowns? Given a choice, I would like to work with known devils than unknown people! I am not really judging the fate of that company and whatever happens it will definitely just not depend on the fact that they worked with known set of people.
Another example am citing here is much closer home. ‘Plavaga‘, a IT services company founded by all class-mates from the same school (as mine), same class and same home town (as mine – Gomia, Jharkhand). Does that mean, they will not be successful? On the contrary I believe they will be successful mostly because of this very reason. As the bonding, understanding and trust factor would be much more. All ingredients for success.
Whom would you choose? Working with old time friends or recently known?
Ans: "I would like to work with known devils" 😀 😛
I thought so! 🙂