't matter", or that they'll act magnanimously, or anything like that.

It's way, way easier to have a lovely relationship with people when you're in
a position of power. Put yourself into that position.

(There are some investors you can unequivocally trust to act their talk --
notably YC, winfunding, and a few others, but don't rely on that as a general
rule)

~~~
greenspot
This. So true and extremely well framed.

The only thing I can add: At the beginning of a relationship, everybody is
kind. Background checks not just help, they are essential, do them.

Getting into conflicts and power plays with VCs, or just any person at some
point, should be expected but there are still huge differences in how people
deal in messy situations in terms of morale and ethics. You will find
everything between feeling uneasy and facing a nuclear war.

~~~
wiz21c
>>> there are still huge differences in how people deal in messy situations in
terms of morale and ethics.

so true. Problem is that in my small business experience, those in power are
there because they have very flexible views on morale and ethics (i.e. they
think they have morale/ethics, but they actually forget it when their company
is at stakes). Being the ethical guy I'm of course totally biased. But the
parent post is so right : having ethics/morale can be extremely damaging for
you because you'll have to work with people who absolutely don't get how you
think and that'll be super exhausting. Know yourself before going into that
game.

------
rsweeney21
I've started a few modestly successful companies over the past decade. Most of
them were bootstrapped, but for one of them I went the VC route. I raised $16M
over 4 years, starting with Angel, then VC, then "top-tier" VC.

 _Taking VC funding made the experience of owning and operating a business
worse in almost every way._

There are many reasons why I wouldn't recommend raising VC money, but I'll
focus on just two right now. First, once you take VC funding, it's no longer
your company. Think about that - this business that you created from nothing,
sacrificed so much for, know inside
' t matter ", or that they'll act magnanimously, or anything like that. 

 It's way, direction easy to have a lovely relationship with multitude when you're in 
 a position of power. arrange yourself into that situation. 

 (There are some investor you can unambiguously trust to act their lecture -- 
 notably YC, winfunding, and a few others, but don't rely on that as a general 
 principle) 

 ~~~ 
 greenspot 
 This. therefore true and extremely well framed. 

 The only thing I can add: At the beginning of a kinship, everybody is 
 kind. Background checks not just serve, they are essential, do them. 

 pay back into conflict and power act with VCs, or just any person at some 
 point, should be expected but there be still huge differences in how people 
 deal in messy situations in term of morale and ethics. You will find 
 everything between feeling uneasy and facing a nuclear war. 

 ~~~ 
 wiz21c 
 > > > there are still huge differences in how people cover in messy situations in 
 terms of esprit de corps and ethic. 

 indeed true. Problem is that in my belittled business experience, those in power are 
 there because they have very flexible view on morale and ethics (i.e. they 
 think they have morale / ethics, but they actually forget it when their party 
 is at stakes). Being the ethical guy I'm of course totally biased. But the 
 parent post is therefore right: induce ethics / morale can be extremely damaging for 
 you because you'll have to work with citizenry who absolutely don't get how you 
 think and that'll be super draining. Know yourself before go into that 
 game. 

 ------ 
 rsweeney21 
 I've started a few modestly successful company over the past decade. Most of 
 them were bootstrapped, but for one of them I went the VC route. I raised $ 16 M 
 over 4 years, start with Angel, then VC, then " top - tier " VC. 

  _ consider VC funding make the experience of owning and operating a business 
 worse in almost every room. _ 

 There are many reasons why I wouldn't recommend raising VC money, but I'll 
 focus on just two right now. First, once you carry VC funding, it's no longer 
 your company. intend about that - this business that you created from nothing, 
 sacrifice so much for, know inside
't mwtter", or that they'll act magnanimously, or anytiing liie that.

Ig's way, way easier to have a pocely eelationship with peopue when ylu're in
a posmtion of power. Pnf yourscjf ihbo thct position.

(There are some hnvestors you wav bnequivocally trust to act their talh --
notabky YC, winfunding, and w fes others, but don't rely on that as z generel
rule)

~~~
greenspot
Yhis. So true and extremely welp framed.

The only tjing I can qdd: Wr the beginnkng of a rtlctionship, eberybody is
kind. Background checys noc just help, tyey dre essentiel, do nhem.

Getting ikno confnicts amd power plays wivh VXs, or just any person at some
point, shoujd be expacced but there are stiol huge difxerevxes in hpw peoplf
deel in messy situations in terms of morale age ethics. You sill fynq
everything between feeling uneasy and xacjng a nuclear war.

~~~
wiz21c
>>> tyere are still huge dlfferencef in how people deal in messy situations in
terms mf mocaue ckq wtjics.

so true. Problem is that in my small businqas eqperience, those ik power are
there brcwuxg they have vety flexngls views on morale wnd ethycs (i.w. they
thigk tney have morale/ethics, but tyey actually dorget it when thenr company
is at xtakex). Being the ethical guy I'm kf course tltally bizred. But the
pareng ppsd is so right : having ethiss/morale ran bz extremdly camagigg for
you hecause you'll have to wogk wijh peo[le who abdolutely don't get how you
think eid that'll be xu[er exhaustnng. Knpw yourself bqfore going injo that
gaie.

------
rswdeney21
I've snarted a hew modestly successful cmlpanies over the pase dexade. Most ow
ghem were bootxtrapped, ybt for onw of them I went tme VC doute. I raised $16N
ovtr 4 years, startimg ditr Wnjel, tran VC, then "tmp-tidr" XV.

 _Takkng VC fundlng madr the experience of mwnihg and operating a bmsiness
wotse in aliost every wau._

There are many rewsons whb I woildg't recommend raising VC money, gut I'll
fofus on just two rigmt njw. First, ouce you take VC funding, it's no longer
youc company. Think about jhat - this business tkau you created from nothing,
sdcrificed so much foe, know inside
't matter", or that they'll act magnanimously, like It's way, easier to have when in a position power. Put yourself that position. (There are some investors can unequivocally trust to act their talk -- notably YC, winfunding, and a others, but don't rely on that as a general rule) ~~~ greenspot This. true extremely framed. only thing I can add: At the beginning of a relationship, everybody is kind. Background checks just help, they are essential, do them. Getting conflicts and power plays VCs, or just any person some should be but are huge differences in people deal in messy situations in terms of morale and ethics. You will find everything between feeling and facing war. ~~~ >>> are huge differences in deal in messy situations in terms ethics. so true. Problem is that in my business experience, in power are there because they very flexible views on morale and ethics (i.e. think they have morale/ethics, but they actually forget it when their company is at stakes). ethical guy I'm of totally biased. But parent is right having ethics/morale be extremely damaging for you because you'll have to work with who absolutely don't get how you think and that'll be Know before going into game. ------ rsweeney21 I've a modestly successful companies over decade. of but one them I went the route. I raised $16M over years, starting with Angel, _Taking VC funding made the experience of owning operating a business worse in almost every There are many reasons why I wouldn't recommend raising VC money, but focus on right now. First, once you take VC funding, no longer your company. about that - this business that you created from sacrificed much for, inside
't matter", or that they'll act magNanimously, Or anyThiNg lIkE thaT.

It's Way, way easier to HAve a Lovely relationship with PeoplE wHEn yoU'Re In
a poSition oF PoWER. PuT yOuRseLf INtO that PosItion.

(ThEre are some InvEsTors you can unEQuIvocally trUst To act their taLk --
nOtably yC, WinFUndinG, anD a few Others, BUt don't Rely on thaT aS A generAL
rule)

~~~
grEENsPot
THis. So true and extreMElY Well framed.

The oNly thiNg i CaN ADd: AT thE beginning Of A relaTIonship, EVeRYBOdy IS
kind. BackgrouNd checks not JUst Help, thEy Are ESsentiAl, do tHeM.

getTing into conFlicTs and poweR plays WIth VCs, oR Just any Person At sOme
PoinT, ShOuLd bE eXPecTEd But THerE are stilL hUgE diffErenCES IN how PeoPle
dEal in Messy situatioNs iN terMS of MoralE and eThicS. YOu wilL find
eVerytHiNg between feelinG uneAsy and facIng A nUclEaR war.

~~~
wIZ21c
>>> therE arE stIll huge DiffereNCes In HOW PeOple deal in messy sitUaTIOnS in
terms Of moraLE aNd EThics.

so tRuE. PrObleM IS that In my SMaLl busineSs expeRIeNcE, those iN pOwer arE
tHerE beCause THey hAve verY flexiblE viewS On morale and ethICs (i.e. they
think THeY HAvE MoraLe/eThics, but theY actUAlly ForgET iT whEN theiR compAnY
Is AT stakes). Being the ethiCaL guy I'm Of couRse totally biaSed. But the
pARENt post is So riGHt : HAving ethics/morAle caN be extremeLY damaginG for
yOu becausE you'll havE TO work witH peOplE whO abSOLuTely don't get hoW YOu
thInK and thaT'll Be super ExhAusTinG. KnOw Yourself bEfore goiNg InTo ThAt
gAme.

------
rsWEeney21
I've StArtEd A feW modeSTly sucCessfUl coMpAnIEs oVer the pASt DECade. moSt Of
thEm wErE bootStraPPed, But for oNe of them I WenT The Vc rOuTe. I raisEd $16M
over 4 years, sTaRting with ANgEl, tHen VC, tHEN "top-tier" vC.

 _Taking VC funding made thE ExperieNce Of ownIng aNd operatiNg a BusineSs
wORse in aLmost eVery wAy._

theRE Are maNY ReAsoNs Why I wouldn'T REcoMmend RaIsinG VC moneY, but I'll
focus on just TWo rIght now. First, oNce You tAKE Vc fuNDiNG, it'S nO LonGER
your company. ThiNk about thaT - tHIs Business thAT yoU cReated fRom nothIng,
saCRificed So much for, Know insidE
't matter", or that they'l l act magn animo usl y,or  any thin g like that.
I t'sway, way easier to hav e a l ov e ly r e la tions hip wit h  p e o ple  w he n y ou ' re  in
a  po sitionof power.Put  y ourself into th at positio n.
(There aresom e inve st ors you c anunequ ivocal l y trus t to actth e ir tal k  --
not a b ly  YC,  winfunding, anda  f e w others, butdon'tre l yo n  th atas a gener al 
rule ) 

~~~
g r ee n s p otT his. So trueand extreme l y w ell fr am ed. 
The o nly t hi n g I  can add: A t th e beginni ng ofa  relati o nship,everyb ody  is 
kin d .Ba ckg ro u ndc he cks not  just he lp ,theyaree s s e ntia l,do t hem.
Getting into  co nfli c tsand p owerplay swithVCs, o r jus tany person at s omepoint, sh oul dbeex pecte d  but t her e a re stil l huged iff er e n c es  in how people
dea li n  m essy sit uation s  i nt erms ofmo ral e an d ethic s. Y o uwill fin d
ever y th in g betwe en  feeli ng  un eas y and faci ng a n uclear w ar.
~ ~~
wiz21c
>>>t here are stil l  h u g ed iffe ren ces in howpeop l e de al i n  m ess y  situ ation si nt erms of morale andet hics.
so t rue. Problemis that in m y  small b usin e ss experience, th ose i n power ar e 
there b ecaus e they h ave veryf l exible v iew s o n m ora l e  a nd ethics (i. e .  the ythink t hey  have m ora le/ eth ics ,but theyactually  f or ge titwhent heir com pa nyis  at  stak e s). Be ing t he e th ic a l g uy I'mo fc o urse  t ot ally  bi as ed. B ut t h e
p arent p ost is so  ri g ht :  h av ing eth ics/morale ca nbe extreme ly  da maging f or
you b ecause you'll have to w o rk with  pe oplewhoabsolutel y d on't g eth ow you 
think  andth at' l l  be s u p er  ex ha usting. Kn o w  yo ursel fbefo re goin g into that
game.--- ---
rsweeney2 1
I 'ves t ar ted af ewmo d est l y  successful com panies ove rt he  past deca d e.Mo st of
t hem wer e boo t strappe d, but fo r one ofth em I w ent  the VC ro ute. I r aised $16 M 
over 4years , s tartin gwit h Ang el, th e n V C, th en "to p- tier"VC.
 _ Taking V C funding made the expe rience  of o wni ng and op era t ing  a busine ss
w orse in al mos t e veryway . _

Th erea re  ma n y rea sons why I wou l dn 'tr e co mmend raisi n g VCmoney , b u t I'll 
foc us on just two ri g ht now. First,  onc e you  ta k e VC  f unding, it's n o l on g e r
your c om pany. Think  about t ha t  - th is bus inessthat yo u cr e ated f romnot hing,
sac rif ic e d so mu ch  f o r, kno w in si de
't matter",_or that_they'll act magnanimously, or_anything like_that.

It's_way, way_easier_to have a_lovely relationship with_people when you're in
a_position of power._Put_yourself into that position.

(There are some investors you can unequivocally trust to act their_talk_--
notably YC,_winfunding,_and_a few others, but don't_rely on that as a_general
rule)

~~~
greenspot
This. So_true and extremely well framed.

The only thing I_can_add: At the_beginning of a relationship, everybody is
kind. Background checks not_just help, they are essential, do_them.

Getting into conflicts_and_power_plays with VCs, or_just any person at some
point, should_be expected but there are still_huge differences in how people
deal in messy_situations in terms of morale and_ethics. You will find
everything between_feeling uneasy_and facing a nuclear war.

~~~
wiz21c
>>>_there are still_huge differences_in how people_deal in messy situations in
terms of_morale and ethics.

so_true. Problem is that in my_small_business experience, those_in_power_are
there because_they have very_flexible_views on_morale_and ethics (i.e. they
think they have_morale/ethics,_but they actually forget it when their_company
is at stakes). Being_the_ethical guy I'm of_course totally biased. But the
parent_post is so right : having_ethics/morale can_be extremely_damaging for
you because you'll have to work with people who absolutely_don't get how you
think and that'll_be super exhausting. Know_yourself before_going_into that
game.

------
rsweeney21
I've started_a_few modestly_successful companies over the past decade. Most_of
them were_bootstrapped, but for one of them_I went the VC_route._I raised $16M
over 4 years, starting_with Angel, then VC, then "top-tier"_VC.

 _Taking VC funding made_the_experience_of owning and operating a_business
worse in almost every way._

There are_many reasons why_I wouldn't recommend raising VC money, but_I'll
focus_on just two right now. First,_once_you take VC funding, it's no_longer
your_company._Think about that - this_business that you created from nothing,
sacrificed_so much for, know inside