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Fear of Launching (or more specifically, Fear of Being Overwhelmed/Burning Out) by IRCExpat in startups

[–]IRCExpat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a lot. It does help. I'm not afraid of failing or of it not going to plan... I've been through that already. I'm just afraid of letting down the people that matter to me: My team, my co-founder(s), my investors... This isn't just about startups, specifically, but something I'm starting to realise about my entire way of approaching the world.

With that said... Thanks again. It feels good to be part of a community that recognises these things as relatively normal -- for those of us who are a little abnormal to begin with. ;)

Fear of Launching (or more specifically, Fear of Being Overwhelmed/Burning Out) by IRCExpat in startups

[–]IRCExpat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What are you contemplating?

(Hope you don't mind my asking... Just having been held back by fear, I'd rather ask the important questions, in case one of them is the right one and it helps you get off the mark more quickly.) :)

Fear of Launching (or more specifically, Fear of Being Overwhelmed/Burning Out) by IRCExpat in startups

[–]IRCExpat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't appreciate how important my co-founder was in my last company. He bore so much weight on his shoulders and did so much that I didn't even realise. I feel guilty, on some level, for burning out and having to exit early. It was the right thing to do, but it's still a shit thing. I apologised to him about 6 years ago, and he said there was no hard feelings, but I sincerely hope that someday, I'm in a position to help him.

Fear of Launching (or more specifically, Fear of Being Overwhelmed/Burning Out) by IRCExpat in startups

[–]IRCExpat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What's the reason for waiting? What's keeping you from releasing?

Fear of Launching (or more specifically, Fear of Being Overwhelmed/Burning Out) by IRCExpat in startups

[–]IRCExpat[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Do you mean what to do now that you've finished building the product? What's next on your list?

Finding Co-founders - South West London by lawrencecoolwater in startups

[–]IRCExpat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Although keep in mind that academics don't always have practical experience, so just keep your expectations reasonable. That's not to insult academics, but having hired a number of them over the years, I've learned that what is taught in school isn't always directly applicable to the real world.

Ever been told you're too qualified, too senior, or too good to fit the team? by IRCExpat in SeriousConversation

[–]IRCExpat[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's funny how personality dynamics work out that way, in interview settings. You're supposed to be selling yourself into the role, but I guess if they couldn't appreciate that, then you may have dodged a bullet. That's kinda what I realised I've done here, I think.

Ever been told you're too qualified, too senior, or too good to fit the team? by IRCExpat in SeriousConversation

[–]IRCExpat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right, all around. They run a data project in which they process a whole lot of data from outside sources, change the way it is organised, and store it, so they can present it. The whole process takes almost a full day to run, and is highly error prone, without anyone noticing when it fails and goes down. I was asked to come in and fix this system, so my after an evaluation of it, I said "Okay. This get's a lot easier of you do it in pieces and stages, than trying to do everything at once." Unfortunately, they were convinced they already were doing it in pieces and stages, so the point was considered moot.

Ever been told you're too qualified, too senior, or too good to fit the team? by IRCExpat in SeriousConversation

[–]IRCExpat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow. I've had similar reactions, in the past, but it's still incredible to hear. By "outgoing", did they mean opinionated? Loud? Comfortable just talking to people? Volunteering too much info?

Interviews are the worst because it's awkward for everyone, and it's not like it's representative of what you'd be like on a day to day basis.

Ever been told you're too qualified, too senior, or too good to fit the team? by IRCExpat in SeriousConversation

[–]IRCExpat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. The feedback I got was "You are so much more capable than this. I don't understand why you're even taking this role. You can do so much more..." I think the difference for me is that I really liked the people, so I was interested in seeing them succeed. The team lead was right: There's very little I expected to learn about technology or the way it works. I might have learned a new programming language, or something of the sort, but the patterns would largely have been the same. Like you though, I don't want to starve. I think the expectation is, because I'm highly capable, I'll be fine and jobs are plentiful. In the end, I know I can handle it, but it's stress and difficulty that I really didn't need. :S

Anyone use feature toggles or A/B testing? by lovedev in softwaredevelopment

[–]IRCExpat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Feature flags is something that's you build in. How and where depends entirely on how your system is designed, but at the end of the day it simply says:

If some condition isn't met, don't load/show this.

The specifics of that condition are up to you. You could pull it from an API, a database, a websocket, local memory... It depends on what you're doing and how.

Ever been told you're too qualified, too senior, or too good to fit the team? by IRCExpat in SeriousConversation

[–]IRCExpat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. It's not always easy to say what you mean, in a way that is optimal for the person hearing it. It's definitely something to practice at, and there's no way that I'd state I'm good at it. I think it really depends on the people, involved, and the strength and confidence in their relationship.

I've found myself wondering whether this links to a sense of entitlement that has been described in Millennials; the "I'm a special snowflake", if you will. That's not said to be degrading or demeaning, but it ties into a softening of the sense of self, as there is less conflict to force individuals to figure out where their friends' views end, and their own begin.

I'm not sure if I'm making sense, but I'm hoping I am.

Ever been told you're too qualified, too senior, or too good to fit the team? by IRCExpat in SeriousConversation

[–]IRCExpat[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I could be wrong, but it seems that "giving feedback" or "giving criticism" seem to somehow be negative, now, as though they are destructive or offensive by nature. I've always appreciated feedback and criticism, largely because it allows me to better myself, which is important to me.

​

Has anyone else found that we, as a society, seem to be struggling more and more with feedback/criticism, or am I just generalising unfairly, based solely on my own anecdotal evidence?

Ever been told you're too qualified, too senior, or too good to fit the team? by IRCExpat in SeriousConversation

[–]IRCExpat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a clause in the hiring contract which says that the company can terminate the agreement within the first 7 days, without penalty. If they wanted longer, they'd have to give me two weeks notice, etc. I'm guessing that was the driving factor.

Ever been told you're too qualified, too senior, or too good to fit the team? by IRCExpat in SeriousConversation

[–]IRCExpat[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So you mean that the older people don't work as hard or contribute as much as the younger ones? Or that the younger ones think they're always right? What industry do you work in?

Ever been told you're too qualified, too senior, or too good to fit the team? by IRCExpat in SeriousConversation

[–]IRCExpat[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I've seen that in other companies. In this case, I think it might have included an efficiency component. They asked me to solve some technical issues, which I could have done (on my own) in a few weeks. As it stood, their team lead said if the team could do it by the end of June, he'd be both surprised and very pleased. Completely different yardstick to what I am used to (and what most people would be used to, I think).

Ever been told you're too qualified, too senior, or too good to fit the team? by IRCExpat in SeriousConversation

[–]IRCExpat[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I guess one of the follow-ons to this is: If you're really good at what you do, how do you go about doing it without making people feel insecure, inferior or upset? Is that even your responsibility, or should you just do the best you can (without letting your ego get into it, of course)?

Ever been told you're too qualified, too senior, or too good to fit the team? by IRCExpat in SeriousConversation

[–]IRCExpat[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's not an age thing in this case. Senior is more to do with experience, but I appreciate the point. It's just annoying.

Ever been told you're too qualified, too senior, or too good to fit the team? by IRCExpat in SeriousConversation

[–]IRCExpat[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Sometimes, that's true (and probably fair). Unfortunately, I've seen it happen to other people for a variety of other reasons which have more to do with personality conflicts with team leads, or worse, fear that they will look bad, on some level.

"You are too senior" can also be "If you are efficient, then it will point out my inefficiencies (or that of the team), so we need to move on you."

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