Might be the best problem TLI5'ing GIF I've seen :)
1,153 karma · joined June 4, 2013
Pros: 1. Depending on your own personality and the size of the company, regardless of your role you have the opportunity to actually drive direction across the company. 2. While titles aren't important in my opinion, startups do allow you climb the proverbial ladder faster. I became head of engineering 5 years in, that opened doors to skills I didn't think I'd pick up and opportunities I didn't think I'd have until I was 10 years in. 3. It is mighty fun to work in a small team and see results of your work everyday. You care a lot more about customers, product, your team. You learn empathy.
Cons: 1. The stock option sell - lets call it what it is, it is nothing but a justification for a pay cut with the sell of riches in the future. Every time I hear the stock spiel (shpeel?), I nod my head but I forget about it and always try and negotiate a salary that works for me in that I'd be happy to give a lot of my time for that amount of money. 2. If you start your career and remain in a startup for a long time, it is very very difficult to transition to a large company if you want to {political klout, diplomacy, all skills you pick up at a large company are harder to pick up at a small startup}. I found this very hard when I transitioned from startup head of engineering to management at Amazon and quit within a few months
I've tried reaching out to Alex Ehlke, Chris and yourself (these accounts I saw across a few months on HN). Please let me know either way (if there's a fit or there isnt). Thanks!
https://medium.com/@vrashabhirde/will-the-real-restful-api-p...
(edited again to make it less rant-y and offensive and more useful)
Firstly this is NORMAL, accept it. I dont know how long I struggled to accept it. Everyone is anxious, some more than others, because of either human nature or the way they are from the beginning or due to some life changing events.
Secondly I cant stress the importance of breathing exercises enough. Anytime you feel anxiety coming on(and you will eventually start to recognize it with some physical or mental symptoms) do the 4..7..8 breathing exercise
-- Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.
-- Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.
-- Hold your breath for a count of seven.
-- Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight.
--This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths. TRUST ME ON THIS. THIS IS THE HACK YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
Thirdly be mindful of your thoughts, step away every time you are anxious and see it like you were someone else advicing you, what would you say to someone else who was going through this?
Fourth - Be active! Physically. Gym, Run outdoors!
I was slightly iffy on Swimming, because although it helps physically, I always felt slightly more anxious underwater because it left me alone with my thoughts initially. But then eventually once I controlled my anxiety enough, and learned to be more mindfulness I thought it was great too!
This is how I hack anxiety and in my opinion is more than enough.