[confoundcofound]

I naively dropped out of grad school to cofound a startup where I was pushed out at the 11th hour before it was acquired. Took some personal time off to process the fallout and have been doing some consulting the past couple years.

No network. No achievements. No notable educational or professional institutions on the CV. Just what feels like an ever-narrowing path to any sort of career success.

[logicalmonster]

In what industry were you operating? What was your role? What hats did you wear as a consultant?

You sound a little negative and self-defeatist about everything, whereas a lot of people would be able to spin even a startup failure as an amazing learning and growing experience.

[confoundcofound]

Fintech, “led” product. And by led, I mean shoot from the hip with no strategy, no experience, and no structure, with a CEO cofounder who from day 1 tried to push me out.

I was sadly incapable of acquiring the mentorship, knowledge, and resources I needed on my own. I was naive and wholly ignorant. I ran around like a headless chicken for 5 years constantly putting out fires and looking over my shoulder.

And now have very little for it.

[logicalmonster]

Lasting for 5 years in any company means you were doing some things right.

Right now you sound very defeatist and negative and it would be tough for somebody to hire you if this is the mindset you convey to the world.

Treat this as a creative writing exercise. Sit down and list the things you did, and spin them as positively as possible. Even if you didn't do something perfect, so what? You think every company out there is doing everything perfect?

[ilamont]

You have learning experiences that lots of people will never have. Cofounding and running a startup is no small feat. And you will never make some of the mistakes again, either, particularly when it comes to the demands of cofounders or investors.