Looking for Technical Advisor Types (For Business Q's)

[SMADParticipant 651]

Hey all,

Anyone here had any experience with engineering / hi-tech startups? Perhaps a few business owners or managers?

I am hoping to get some advice to take my startup forward into its second year and put my business plan through a major overhaul. I have tried looking online but its the usual “clickbait / unhelpful pointers” articles like “do what you love doing.” All those points I already know and do.

Any help would be appreciated fellow MGTOW folks!

Marriage?  No thanks, i'm not ready to be THAT miserable.

[KeymasterKeymaster]

SMAD wrote:

Anyone here had any experience with engineering / hi-tech startups?

Yes at least 5 times.

SMAD wrote:

articles like “do what you love doing.”

I dont’ agree with that, and believe it’s a stupid/millenial/bulls~~~ mentality for an important reason.

I was in an “interview” type situation almost 2 years ago and was called in to have a conversation about spear-heading a big project. The f~~~ing guy asks “so what do you LIKE to do?”. I told him I didn’t understand the question.

He thought I was being a smartass (or a dumbass) but I really don’t understand the question. So I asked him…. When you’re looking for someone skilled to put out fires, do you ask a fireman what kind of fires he LIKES to put out??? It’s irrelevant. He does what he does out of duty and that goes with the job. He doesn’t get paid to LIKE it… he gets paid to DO it”.

… and it felt like I was explaining it to a toddler.

I put out fires of a different sort. Especially in a new/tech/startup situation where you’re pulling 70 hour weeks. You’re putting out fires at 2 & 4 AM. Nobody “likes” that. Nobody “loves” that. And nobody is going to pay you enough to “like” crawling out of bed at 2AM to fix something that broke — which doesn’t even need to be fixed unless you’re in the business of saving lives. So all of that “do what you love” f~~~~~ry is for the birds.

DO –>>> what needs to be done.
How much you “love” it plays no role.

That “do what you love” bulls~~~ had to have been written by a woman. Because it “sounds good” but it’s nowhere based in reality.

If you keep doing what you've always done... you're gonna keep getting what you always got.

[SMADParticipant 651]

Keymaster wrote:

So all of that “do what you love” f~~~~~ry is for the birds.

Thank you Keymaster for replying to this topic – I know you have mentioned previous startups some time ago but didn’t want to harass you unless you got in touch!

And your answer is absolutely bang on to how I feel about it – as a MGTOW at peace with the reality of the situation, I don’t have some nagging c~~~ weasel or brat to take up my time. I can dedicate 100% of my time to making this company work and I am currently boot strapping it myself.

I think the thing I am having trouble with is actually getting my foot in the door. Whilst I appreciate new start-ups tend to have a tough time, I feel that there are a few areas that aren’t working – and being self-aware / critical I am thinking a lot of the issues centre on myself and perhaps my approach?

I sit on various committees and business forums, but I feel very much like I am either not taken very seriously, or that I am new and “unproven” and therefore largely ignored? Unfortunately, getting feedback and trying to improve is immensely tricky as I am finding it hard to get replies in general, let alone anything else. It’s feeling very difficult to “break in” to the business world!

I have absolutely no intention of giving up but I do recognise that something isn’t working and I want to address that and hopefully improve for next year.

Also as well, the local council “Business Developers” seem to be more used to more standard start ups, like a coffee bar (because we don’t have enough of them.) What I am trying to do is *very* unusual for where I live and I think most people look at me like I have 5 heads when I try and tell them.

If I put across my “nice side” persona, I feel like I come across as a naive idiot trying to be pleasant. If I put across a more ruthless side, then unfortunately the worst parts of me come out.

Hence why I have started this thread in the hope that perhaps there might be a willing advisor or, maybe with a bit of luck, a mentor!

Marriage?  No thanks, i'm not ready to be THAT miserable.

[KeymasterKeymaster]

SMAD wrote:

didn’t want to harass you

Use the contact form (addressed to me) and if I can answer specifics I will certainly try. ( Your thoughts above are very general. )

Avoid using the term “start up” and don’t let others get away with it either. it’s what they use to try and sucker others into taking less than they normally would (or can charge) because they are a “not yet established” business.

When you’re looking for a car, you don’t look for one that just “starts up”. You want some substance and performance at least on a minimal level.

I once worked for a company that called themselves a “start up”, and as soon as they used that term to describe themselves, I called them out right there . “You’ve been in business since 1984 so you’re not a “start-up. Not even close”. An uncomfortable giggle followed.

You could tell them……….

Call me after you have finished “starting up”.

If you keep doing what you've always done... you're gonna keep getting what you always got.

[SMADParticipant 651]

Keymaster wrote:

Use the contact form (addressed to me) and if I can answer specifics I will certainly try.

That would be awesome KM, thank you. I didn’t want to go into too much detail here because as much as I respect and enjoy reading other mens thoughts and their MGTOW journeys, I wouldn’t want lurkers seeing my info and going mental.

Keymaster wrote:

void using the term “start up” and don’t let others get away with it either. it’s what they use to try and sucker others into taking less than they normally would (or can charge) because they are a “not yet established” business.

That rings true actually – thinking of it this way makes it sound like I am already putting myself “down” or lowering my value. Unfortunately, any “front” or mask I try and put up as a professional doesn’t seem to be sustainable, perhaps because I am not entirely confident in my own abilities? Hrmm, something to think about.

But thanks KM, will PM you shortly 🙂

Marriage?  No thanks, i'm not ready to be THAT miserable.

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