> One of the hardest parts of doing a startup is talking with non-founders about what you do .. it's so easy to say "I work at Google" or "I'm in med school".
Is it really hard to say "I founded and run a business which does <X>"? I mean, its more words than "I work for <foo>", but its not really that much more complex of an idea, or unfamiliar to most speakers and listeners.
Yeah actually, it's quite hard unless you have traction, revenue or investors. At least it's hard when all your friends are working at <X> BigCo or doing grad school at <Y> BigSchool. And when your parents know that your friends are doing <X> or <Y> and the path you've chosen is so vague and uncertain ..
By "hard" are you saying it causes problem with communication or a problem with a desire of the speaker to be able to present an image consistent with expectations (personal or social) of success/security?
That's not a problem with being a founder, that's a problem with the specific domain of the company. Someone who works for matchist would have the same problem compared to someone who works for Google as you do.
Is it really hard to say "I founded and run a business which does <X>"? I mean, its more words than "I work for <foo>", but its not really that much more complex of an idea, or unfamiliar to most speakers and listeners.