[james1071]

Of course you are clueless. Only a complete idiot would accept code, of no obvious value, that he had himself written as payment for two years of work. Not only that, but you are now going to waste further time and, possibly money, while your co-founder recruits another idiot to work for free. No, doubt, you will reject this interpretation of events, but that is what has happened. You might get a job (hopefully paid) where you use your skills, but selling your code for money does not seem very likely. Perhaps I have got this wrong, but that is how this situation appears to me.

[pgcj_poster]

Can we refrain from calling people "complete idiots"? Especially people who politely ask for advice right after experiencing failure? Thanks.

[celticmusic]

The OP needs to hear the truth, it's a very succinct way of emphasizing the depth of the mistake.

[Accujack]

It's a subtle difference, but I would say a change in phrasing is what's needed.

Rather than "you are a complete idiot" it should be "You are acting like a complete idiot" or better "In this instance you've been duped/fooled, you're being taken advantage of"

[celticmusic]

that's patronizing. There's an honesty in pointing out that someone is an idiot without treating them like a child to boot.

[sad_cofounder]

Thanks for being blunt, sometimes you need to hear it like it is.

As you say, I will reject this interpretation a tad, but that is because I have knowledge I cannot share here. But some kind of idiot, that I have been. Just need to analyze it pinpoint what kind.

Also, would you mind to share a story when you have been a clueless complete idiot and what you learnt from it? I think that would counter the tone of your comment and help others that being blunt can be helpful.

[james1071]

That's not much of a rejection, why not reject it more than a tad?

Instead you have accepted that you were some kind of idiot and are inviting me to demonstrate my own superior levels of idiocy, which is completely idiotic, isn't it?

What kind of person does that - seeking out complete idiots online?

[Accujack]

Welcome to the internet, sir!

More seriously... I see what you did here, and I applaud his polite response.

Discuss.

[qassmord]

Hey! I'll jump in here. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders and a willingness to grow from your missteps.

Areas to grow would be 1. Learn how to negotiate. a. I had a friend convince me to code out an online store for them. A month and a half in they changed their mind and I had a 80% complete site with 100% useless code and I get $0 for my late nights and dedication. Fail. Never again. No free code. 2. No friends & family discounts (you're a highly skilled doer... Don't get short changed) 3. Crank out the skeleton of the product and get customers using. Always MVP. a. Friend: "I have this great idea" Me: codes big projects with half way fleshed out functionalities, but unusable as a whole Project: slows to a stop and dies with 0 customers and 0 motivation. Done this twice. Rookie move. Don't waste your time making things pretty before you make them work. 4. Don't be just a code monkey, learn the business and if you are a co-founder grow out of the "just dev" role. a. As devs, we are really capable at technical skills and awful as negotiating deals, getting clients, understanding business needs and such. One of my co-workers gets paid 60k and works overtime with no additional compensation.. he made the business owner 1.6 mil last year. No bonus, no raise. He sees none of that. Out grow the dev role, my friend.

But at the end of the day, despite what feels like a fail or a lack of wisdom, take a little self assurance in the fact that you did a thing and you tried something and saw it through. Now just learn and do it again. Best of luck man