there are always (at least) two paths...
The 20+ inches of snow outside have me remembering bits and pieces of Robert Frost and thinking about choices at 5:45am on a Sunday:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
Recently I had the opportunity to introduce two current MBA students from top 3 schools to a company that is looking for smart people to help them do some market research. Each student spoke to the founder and then their paths diverged like the roads in the woods.
One student took the opportunity to respond with a thank you and an outline of the project already written-up as an independent study project. He also included the comments from the professor who would be sponsoring him in the research. He asked the founder to comment on the proposed project so he could make any required changes and expressed his excitement about the company. He concluded with an offer to do the work with or without the academic credit and mentioned his ability to engage full-time during school vacations. Compensation never came up.
The other responded as follows:
“The firm you are starting seems viable but I do have some questions and would like to
cover a few items. Most of the points are to clarify the agreement between us so we are both clear about how this could work…
My desire is to join the company as part of the founding team, not just an intern…
I can commit to a maximum of 15 hours per week, but to do so would require me dropping my other commitments that I have worked hard to cultivate…
I would want to be compensated $3,000 a month…
I truly believe that I can deliver real value to your venture and I think that you will find me to be a good team member that will help build your vision…
Let me know your thoughts…
The founder could have responded with this:
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
#1 by Samuel Ian Rosen on December 20, 2009 - 8:49 am
Phin — How did you relationship change after this situation? Did the founder of the company reach out to you with what happened?
#2 by phineasb on December 20, 2009 - 9:05 am
My relationship with the founder remains strong. I apologized for wasting his time with the un-aware MBA. He wrote me the following:
“i will tell him that it is unbudgeted. Looks like we need to talk to more folks who want to learn and are willing to show that they can add value in the hopes of being hired fulltime. Thanks for all these intros–not a waste of time at all”
A willingness to be open about the process and the results can overcome a lot.
#3 by Samuel Ian Rosen on December 20, 2009 - 3:49 pm
Phin — How did you relationship change after this situation? Did the founder of the company reach out to you with what happened?
#4 by phineasb on December 20, 2009 - 4:05 pm
My relationship with the founder remains strong. I apologized for wasting his time with the un-aware MBA. He wrote me the following:
“i will tell him that it is unbudgeted. Looks like we need to talk to more folks who want to learn and are willing to show that they can add value in the hopes of being hired fulltime. Thanks for all these intros–not a waste of time at all”
A willingness to be open about the process and the results can overcome a lot.