RANT: Beginning startup

Hi /prog/

I'm starting a startup, but the thing is, i have 2 associates, they are average programmers like me, but they don't seem to like their job as much as i do.

Now, i'm preparing the environments (wikis, vps machines, accounts, languages, compilers, databases). I didn't asked them for help, but we discussed this many times, and we agreed that we should share the workload,

Now they know everything i'm doing, but i haven't yet received even a single message like "can i help?" or even "what are you doing".

Now, i'm feeling hopeless. I feel alone against the world, and if in this stage, just preparing for the projects, i don't get a helping hand, what can i expect later? I don't care for employees, i want partners.

What can i do /prog/ ???

It won't work with them. The two associates I have in my startup - one comes to work earlier than me and leaves later than me, basically does all the heavy lifting. The other, sometimes wakes up at 6 p.m. but he is an expert programmer and while his bullshit gets tiring at times he gets shit done when he applies himself.

We had a fourth guy, but he was reluctant to leave his job so we just cut him off. You need dedication for this kind of shit, not to mention talent. I took one of my associates from his own startup, and could only do so because I saw him complain about how his former workmates did no work like how you're describing now. In the end that thing didn't work out.

>>1
If they aren't 100% into this it will end badly no matter what. You'll have to compensate for their lack of commitment, and if by any luck you get anywhere at all you'll just feel massively cheated from giving lazy assholes equal shares of the company.
If your only interaction with these ``associates'' is through IRC or whatever medium these ``messages'' come from then it will end badly as well, telecommuting is for contractors and consultants.

Do you have formal written systems in place that document and explain the roles and process involved? By the sound of things, I presume you don't. Whenever you're running a business, it's not enough to have the aptitude to do the work, you as the business director/manager, must also document the roles and processes for each role so that anybody with the proper skill can come in, learn the system and do the work.

To run a business, you must also have various other skills such delegation, time management, and internal business communications. With what you've presented here, you're woefully uneducated about the sort of work that's need in any business. It's certainly good that you are taking responsibility but you also need communication skills which include: convincing your colleagues to take responsibility and writing business process documents.