People come to me a lot with ambitious ideas and ask me if I can help out. Very often I'll find that "help out" means "build the entire product" because while they have ideas, they can't build them. If I press about payment, they'll offer me a spot as co-founder which is perplexing because they risk nothing. Typically these ideas are incomplete, too, and I'm expected to be on call for any changes and modifications. I used to do this a lot.

Sometimes it's my friends, sometimes it's semi-random solicitation. In all cases, though, my ability to program is seen as a magic bullet. In a casual conversation they'll start throwing dates around and ask me if they're cool. Or, I'll get a large email with specifications and instructions presupposing that I'm already on board. If I say that the idea is interesting, time and again this seems to mean "I'm 100% committed."

I never know what to do. I would love to found a startup doing something truly useful and I used to feel bad for not pitching in for my friends. As time has gone on I've realized I was giving away my time too cheaply. I can't contribute something meaningful to the world if I'm constantly running around in poorly-thought-out circles for other people. Sometimes I feel selfish.