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A Family IT/Tech Business??

Posted by michael on from the blood-is-thicker-than-toner dept.

adzoox writes "As I have just hired on my girlfriend to help out with some secretarial work in my Apple consulting, sales, and technical service business, and considering having my brother work with me soon; I'd like to know what the /. readers think about family in the 'Tech Workplace.' Obviously things aren't hectic like a restaurant, but my father and friends have all warned me against mixing business and pleasure and family. Do any of you have successful family owned IT businesses, eBay businesses, or programming/software consulting engineering businesses and what's been or secret to success? If not successful what unique problems did you encounter? How can I make it successful? And most importantly how do you handle authority (tardiness, work ethic, and workplace codes) with a girlfriend?"

6 of 398 comments (clear)

  1. If I had a girlfriend... by burtonator · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    If I had a girlfriend... I would be happy mixing her with anything...

  2. Easy. by big_groo · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    And most importantly how do you handle authority (tardiness, work ethic, and workplace codes) with a girlfriend?

    Blowjobs.

  3. girlfriend ? hah ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I am tired of all these slashdot readers pretending to have girlfriends and rubbing it in "how do you do X with a girlfriend ?", "how do you get a girlfriend to do Y".

    Stop it. We all know.

  4. eBay auctioning isn't a tech business by Tweaker_Phreaker · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    "Do any of you have successful family owned IT businesses, eBay businesses, or programming/software consulting engineering businesses and what's been or secret to success?"

    What does eBay have to do with this? Even though it uses technology to function, it's still an auction business, not an IT/tech business. That said, I know of some people who make a living off of eBay and they have a pretty relaxed way of working. It usually involves lots of shopping (something most women would do anyways) and then a couple hours of taking photos and making a description of the item for the auction page. It's a good way for compulsive shoppers to put their habit into good use.

  5. my expirence by ericbrow · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I've been working with my best friend on starting an ISP. We've been friends for nearly 30 years now, since we were were both in grade school. The biggest plus with us is that we can be totally honest with each other, without hurting each other's feelings. I also think there is an emotional component behind my motivation to help his business succeed. With that said, an APPLE consulting business? I've had apple computers shoved in my face for so many years, I become violently ill when faced with them. According to most Mac freaks,Myth #1 Apples don't break, so how are you going to get any return there? Myth #2: Macs are eaiser to use, once you set them up, so what are they going to need you for after the initial sale? Are your customers such complete morons that they'll need constant assistance? Myth #3: Microsoft is evil. If you think M$'s practices are so bad, how are they compared to the propritary nature of Apple products? Ever try to replace a fried network card in an iMac? (HINT: you must replace the entire motherboard at a certified Apple service center) Ever try to replace a battery on an iPod? I don't mean this as a flame directed at you. I'll probably get flamed myself. But if you were forced to use an operating system that had NO options and treated you like you weren't smart enough to do more than word process or surf, you'd be bitter too.

  6. Re:Legit 2nd post. by JVert · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I sit through this and later tonight, I get anal. You hear me? No matter how neat I want the house, you have to clean it.