It’s funny how, even though most people hate to be a number, most start-up junkies revel in their number. “I was employee #5 and was here before we even had desks.” “Yeah, well, I was employee #3 and was here before we even had laptops to put on the desks!” Seems kind of crazy, right? Well, dear readers, it is. Today is day-four at Currensee and I am employee #10. It’s my second start-up and let me level with you – start-ups are crazy and most of the people that work for start-ups are some kind of crazy (I humbly include myself in this lot).
I remember my 9-to-5, big company, go in, go to a bunch of meetings, go home days. Sure, the pay, the benefits, the hours, the resources, the budget – all great. But, what was the joy in telling people I was employee #80, 685? Well, that is just kind of depressing and, if you look at it that way, how much of an impact can employee #80, 685 really make?
Now, let’s talk about being employee #10. That’s a number with a story.
What does it mean to be the 10th employee at a start-up? Well, I can tell you this – there are a whole bunch of things you love and a whole host of other things that you wish you had the budget, the people or the time to do. For example, at Currensee, I have the opportunity to build our community from the ground-floor. Doesn’t get much more exciting than that. At the same time, I’ll be helping out with a search for new office space, scripting a product tour and spending a good deal of time getting to know the website FAQs. Glamorous? Not so much but it must be done. Then there’s the stuff that employee #80,685 would probably never have to worry about – things like installing print drivers, walking to Staples for office supplies, filling out FedEx forms and all that other administrivia. Long past are the days when I had someone to do those things for me. Luckily, I grew up as an admin and can organize my schedule and make a damn good cup of coffee.
People ask me, “A start-up – isn’t that a ton of work? Don’t you work till, like, midnight every night? Why do you do it?” My answers are, yes, no-not every night and well, it’s now in my blood. As employee #11 at matchmine (R.I.P.) and as employee #10 at Currensee, I don’t think I could go back to being employee #80, 685. There’s something to be said for being a part of something from the beginning. Sure, you work your tail off and, let’s face it, they don’t always hit the jackpot. But, if you have a burning passion in your soul to make a difference and build something from nothing, there is no better place to be than in a start-up.
So, what are your start-up stories? And, if you are employee #80,685, how are you making a difference in your company?
