Startups routinely fail. Nothing is permanent or cushy any more
Adriano Aguzzi @AdrianoAguzzi Some friends, accomplished scientists aged >55 and with H-index >100, gave up tenure and moved to industry. Then, the company’s fortunes changed, they lost their job, can’t go back and are too old to start anew. Academia can be annoying but think twice before leaving.
Replying to @AdrianoAguzzi
I am 75 this year and have failed many times. Never give up, never surrender. If they are that young, they will likely live another 4 or more decades. If they went to “industry”, they are going to face layoffs and failures constantly. That is what “industry” does. They should not take it as an affront or even worry.
Going back to “tenure” is stupid. Bluntly they were right to explore and challenge themselves. If they are not willing to put in the effort, they can sweep streets, plant trees, help the poor, pray, get in shape, read read read. Find people doing things that help others and contribute their big brains and experiences (I presume they have some) and get going. Definitely do not bleat and moan “oh we failed after trying one time”.
If they went in a small herd, that is almost a guarantee of failure. Too timid to try alone, a group is less likely to survive, unless they have already forged nearly unbreakable bonds before. If they were on “tenure” track then likely had never left the soft comfort of papers, classes, schedules and everything done for them.
I am being harsh because I know what it means to work 18/7 for decades on the hardest problems. Just because many people start companies does not mean they are easy. Most fail. And even the large ones that attract investors and get listed on the stock exchanges – most of those are failures for society. Cash cows that no longer have passion, innovation, missions or purpose beyond churn money.
I do not think even military boot camps are allowed to slap someone, to get them out of danger. But a splash in the face or some shock might be needed. If your life is in danger, get moving. If your soul and purpose is in danger, MOVE. If they are not working 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, stop moaning. It often takes that much or more. Do not work more than 20 hours a day for weeks at a time, or more than 72 hours at a stretch. Maybe there are super humans, but those are the levels where my body begins to fail.
My son worked in a startup the last few years, he has two young children and a wife. He is not complaining or wanting a soft job after they cut back recently. He got good experience, but it might be time for him to go on his own, or learn more how to be the boss of his own groups.
Wait til you see universities and colleges failing in large numbers all over the world. People will be happy to work at 1/4 pay just to have a roof over their head and something to eat. I worked for months at $1.90 an hour to get into a professional job in my 50s. Ego does not matter, pride does not matter, but keep some dignity by working hard and trying to do the right things.
If you work 60 hours a week on your main job, work another 60 in small pieces to stay connected and in touch and ahead in other field(s). There are 8.2 Billion humans now, and most just want to get through life with some dignity and connection. And many are likely better trained, harder working and more motivated than your friends. Sometimes you have to wait for things to happen. God and fate have their own timing. Cushy and easy are for dreams and movies.
I expect they will survive, people do. I am mostly writing to tell them to avoid academia. One global open AI or more wars could put everyone out of their comfortable tenures.
Filed as (Startups routinely fail. Nothing is permanent or cushy any more)
Richard Collins, The Internet Foundation
