buckeyenation

Startup founder looking for a job - super jaded.

I was fully vested, and needed to gtfo. 7 year run, s&m oriented founder, super successful, told the board they were fucking idiots at year 5, everything that I said would come true, came true, they ate humble pie but now I think they hate me so I can't ask them for a reference imho.

Need to find a job for obvious reasons, best way to start? I am completely jaded from the trench warfare that is startup land. And I have no idea what I want to do.

Thoughts on pulling myself together?

send dick pics to board

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yes no only the super douchey ones

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39 comments

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poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

This is a tasty little post.

Do you want to be a founder again, or do you want to pivot that experience into a leadership role at a more established company?

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

sucks balls right now, want to found the next idea, can't - wife in grad school, two children in daycare and we aren't selling the company until later this year.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

So - find an established company for a year or two while you build up to your next founding role? Would you want to be a sales leader, or take an IC role? What industry?

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

gahhhh this will sound like a complaint: I am burned out so I should take an IC role. But I am an ENTJ that has led teams and can't help but bulldoze so that says to me I will be a pain in the ass for whoever is my boss. So I should quit. forever.
Pardon my self-loathing - you earned it by engaging with me.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

LOL - the entertainment value alone is worth it.

It's not a complaint, it's a solid observation. Pretty sure those same tendencies make you a force to be reckoned with. That said, can you somehow visualize yourself into not being as big a personality for a year or so, or is that just not going to happen?
I get the burnout, but the family factor is definitely the key element here. So that said: Can you afford some time away before you HAVE to find work?

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

No one earns your pissing and moaning, so suck it up and adapt or wallow in a puddle of self pity. Leaders lead, so get up off your ass and do something.

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

yes master. anything but the hot wax master.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Ah, a fellow troll. Yes. Love this.

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

...my immaturity aside; your words were well-received.

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

Marry me... I will try the visualization - this is a great idea. I've tried in the past when it came time to assuaging big egos in the room - could do it if I had respect for a person.
But because you said do it, I will give it a more thorough try.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

I think it takes a special person to be aware of their traits, so that's commendable.
If you're dead set on staying in sales, why not look to hunker down as an AM for a bit?

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

Go buckeyes!

But that sucks man.

If you could pick anything to do right now, any market, any idea to bring to life, what would it be?

Filth

Politicker

Live Filthy or Die Clean

O-H

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

OH NO... sincerely a wolverine. much love hahah

Filth

Politicker

Live Filthy or Die Clean

Rivalries are no fun without friends to poke and the games can go either way on any day...was so bummed that collectively we were 6 points away from having a National Championship "The Game" rematch this season.
I root for blue every game that isn't against the Buckeyes. Actually went to the Maryland game at the Big House and had a great time. Got to have you Wolverines nice and high to have fun knocking them down. GG this season, can't wait for the next one!

“Because I couldn’t go for three”

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

A boomer guillotine. Chops boomers heads off when they suck their own assholes too much.

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

There’s some LinkedIn sales influencers who can help surely with that

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I'm sure there's a market for that.

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Can't hurt to look into being in some type of channel sale role if you had been in a sales role prior and running a channel means pulling together multiple parties.

RandyLahey

Politicker

Account Manager

Do it because I want the entertainment, and please post a follow-up thread.
Also don't.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

doooooooo iiiiiiiittttttttttt

Founder

If you ever want to vent, I'm right here with you. Spent 7 years building a company as an early employee. We sold. I got paid and I was miserable! Left to pursue a passion project with intent to make it a venture grade SaaS company. We helped some people, but didn't raise enough or generate enough revenue to sustain a living. I, too, am returning to the workforce.

Funny thought about job seeking - If you've been with one company for an extended period of time, you, as a candidate, have become an entirely different product in that timespan, one that you've never sold. Almost like a startup.

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

Great points. Relieved/sad to hear I’m not the only one. It’s completely weird to sell yourself - some things are the same. A lot of new feelings and analysis…

Founder

I'm right with you. When you think of it in terms of fundraising, it's a much easier ask. "Give me X and I'll give you a near guaranteed 4-6x gross return in 12 to 18 months."

detectivegibbles

Politicker

Sales Director

I-O!!

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

this is a WILD post/ situation haha.
sorry to hear about the problems you have had, did the board fire you or did you quit?

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

Technically fired but it was after I sent a memo to the board with…shall we say…suggestions…it was a long time coming. I killed it for them and they know the end is near. They were pissed I rocked the boat.

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

damn thats rough.

Corpslovechild

Politicker

Inbound Sales Manager

Only if you wear crocks in the photo.

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

Left nut tingling cuz of u

MrMonte

Arsonist

Head of Sales

in what industry/market did you operate as a founder?
I'm aware of sales roles that are looking for GTM sales folks who like to build the sales machine.

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

Healthcare saas

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

Who do you have in mind?

MrMonte

Arsonist

Head of Sales

Taking it to the DMs

Senior Account Executive

I would argue there has to be someone who can be a reference. If not the board, then a peer in leadership? a customer? a mentor?
Maybe think of trying to find companies that might not check references? Hard to get a read on it, but sometimes you can fish those out.
Also think of how to tell the story that you and your board don't get along. Hard one to spin, but I am sure you could figure out a way to do it. "You have a lot of experience with conflict" lmao

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

Good point - I have several good references - other founders. Not overly worried now…

Enterprise Sales Director - Net New

Well I here ya but established companies can suck to. I left a SaaS/CaaS company because it was being run horribly. I left the nightmare. They missed their quarterly numbers and the stock tanked 13% yesterday. Glad I was not there for the beat down. Too bad. I packed up and left for SE Asia for 5 months. Best thing I could have done

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

If you need a bigger 🍆 pic to send over, just let me know 😉😉👌

buckeyenation

Acclaimed Answer

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buckeyenation

Startup founder looking for a job - super jaded.

send dick pics to board

39 comments

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