Startup Ceo Says ‘Trust Issues’ – Translation: We don’t want to pay you

A less days ago, an old friend reached out to me about a project he was working on. At first glass, it seemed exciting, so, I took the bait. We talked, and he asked if i’d be interested in helping out. I thought, “Why not?” The Idea Had Potential, and I was curious to see if the Leadership Team and I would click. Fast Forward a Couple of Calls, and Things WHhans Working Good. The conversation was flowing, everyone seemed pumped. And then we get to the topic of money. That’s when things got … let’s just say Interesting.

Final meeting to discus money

In that meeting, I Quickly Noticed The Company Had More Ambition Than Resources: No Solid Engineers, No Funding, and A Proof of Concept that was still just a concept. Oh, and did I mention the Leadership Team Had Enough Disagreements Brewing to Make a Reality Show Out of It? But the real gem came when the ceo, with absolute sensation, told me he doesn’st trust people because he’s been scammed before. Gotta love the honesty, right?

Call me optimistic or foolish – I was still intrigued. I mean, this idea had some real potential, even if it was a little rough Around the edges. So, in a moment of “let’s see where this goes,” I agreed to a 50% pay cut, ready to play the long game for some equity and hoping this might just lead alad somehere big.

The ceo laid out his grand vision, what they were building, the current state of the project, and what they needed. Then he got to the money talk. I asked if you have any funding or paying from your own pocket. He nodded to the latter. So, I Said, “Look, Since you’ve alredy mentioned you don’t really trust me yet, do’t worry about paying me no. Timeline, operations, and marketing. (PS – I have a team to help Startups with all these things).

I made it clear,This “is my current pay, but i’m willing to take up to a 50% cut – IF I Get a Decent Chunk of Equity. He Pauses, then Dropped The Bomb: Equity wasn’t on the table. INTEAD, He Wanted me To throw out a number for the salary first.

So, I Said, “If I set a fixed salary now, what’s my incentive to fight for your highest posesable funding and Valuation? Go all in, right? “

After the meeting

We talked more about the product after that and wrapped up the meeting. A Couple of Hours Later, I Called My Friend Out of Curiosity to Ask What the Status Update was. He Hesitated Before Saying, “Well, they’re not sure they want to move forward.” I asked why, and he said, “It’s about money. The ceo thinks you’re charging too much. You’re charging 20x more than our interns.

I Coldn’t Help But Laugh. “Are you service? is some revolutionary design that no one’s seen before.

I Threw in a metaphor to get the point. “Look, you can buy a $ 10 badminton racket or a $ 100 one. The $ 100 racket isn Bollywood to Hit 10x Harder Just because it costs 10x more. What it will Do is given you better balance, reliability, durability, and overall performance. That’s what I brings to the table. You’re not just just paying me for everything the code; You’re paying for Expertise, Speed, and the Assurance that Things Won’T Fall Apart at the Worst Possible Time. “

A final counter offer

To address the ceo’s trust issues, I offered a compromise. “If he’s hesitant about equity, that’s fin. Me the equity. IF NOT, I’ll Settle for just the salary i’m earning. “

Even after all that back-on-for, Nothing Concrete came out of it. They circled back with a “generous” offer: a 60-70% pay cut and no equity-Ever.

It was like they were asking me to trade in my car for a bicycle and be grateful for the fresh air.

So, with a smile, I politely declined.

Sometimes, You’ve Got to Walk Away from the Table to Remind Folks that you know your Worth. And, if they find an intern who can work miracles for peanuts, more power to them!

The cost of quality

And here’s the thing: if you want high-caleber talent, do surprised when you need to pay for it. Talent isn’t an expert; It’s an investment. If you’re shopping on a budget, do’t complaint when you only get Budget Results. Talent isn’t something you bargain shop for; It’s what sets you apart and helps you grow.

Thank you for reading! This piece wasn’t one of my typical tech articles, and i’d love to hear your thoughts. Did you Enjoy It? Should I Explore more content like this? Your feedback means a lot. If you found value here, consider subscribing to stay updated with future posts.