Goodfellas: Fuck You, Pay Me

In the later part of my career, I’ve had all sorts of “opportunities” to be a “technical cofounder” or a “CTO” (which was barely a glorified overworked tech lead). My motto is “FYPM”: ▶ this video Cash not illiquid equity at my market rate: “You’re getting in on the ground floor of something huge.” “We can’t offer big salaries yet, but the upside potential is enormous.” “You’ll have massive impact here — way more than at a big company.” “We’re looking for people who are mission-driven, not just here for the money.” “Everyone is making sacrifices right now.” “Once we close the next funding round, we’ll revisit compensation.” “The real reward is in the equity, not the salary.”

The other team is outside of my circle of influence and control. But at the end of the day, did money get put in my account? Course language: ▶ this video

I'll never understand why people would work for free like this. I learned very early on (like during my minimum wage job years - 16-21). I am not working more or less and I only work when clocked in (or in the case of most corp jobs, 9-5). If I don't get paid a sizable diff for "non-regular working hours", your call/email/text is going to be ignored until next business day. Idc if it's G or some low rent dogshit company. "fuck you, pay me" [1] Only time I would put in those marathons is for myself (from idea to hacking together an mvp over the weekend), or maybe I am learning something new. [1] ▶ this video

> Like I don't wanna reject them, but if I can somewhow ask them to pay that would be great. Never ask for pay. Demand it , and refuse to work until you've been paid. There are four words you need to learn to speak without fear, and shout if necessary. Anybody who has seen GoodFellas knows what they are. The four magic words are... FUCK YOU. PAY ME. Clip from GoodFellas : < ▶ this video > Also, you need to watch Mark Monteiro's lecture, "Fuck You, Pay me" at < link >. My employers can always rely on me. But they gotta come up with my money every week. Payroll company fucked up? FUCK YOU. PAY ME. The client didn't pay you? FUCK YOU. PAY ME. It's an emergency and you want me to work late? FUCK YOU. PAY ME TIME AND A HALF FOR OVERTIME.

>ransomware I prefer to think of them as bug bounties. Too often, bugs are reported now to bug bounty programs and are either grossly underpaid for the bug's actual value, or deflected as not a real issue at all. Ransomware is ultimately the result. "Fuck you, pay me." ▶ this video

Exactly. Every single problem can be worked around with more money. Market rates are simply tables stakes to hire, and how much I require goes up from there. Obligatory reference: ▶ this video

I strongly suggest you read an introductory finance textbook. To save people some time, here's a 23 second long explanation of why having debt is bad. In short, it takes priority over other obligations: ▶ this video