Dear Dr. Morris

An Interactive Employment Column

Recently my partner and I have signed a merger agreement with a radio and cellular company. The merger is nearly complete but I find myself being pushed out of the new company by my partner. I think what they are doing is a big mistake, and I don't have to go anywhere. I am what is considered the "Sweat Equity" or the Brains but these can be replaced perhaps with more techs and a good manager. The real reason is that I wont let the other partners dilute the stock to allow for another aquisition.

I will do financially quite well with this deal, but I want to continue my career.

I am concerned about what this will do to my chances of finding employment and compensation in this market.

A full response could easily go on forever, so I'll have to give it to you in short statements:

1. You feel bad about being forced out of a business you started. You should-- it stinks! Rather than characterize your former partner and his friends as "vipers," take some time to analyze what happened and why. What was your part in creating the situation? It's not a matter of blame, it's wanting to know why it happened and how to keep it from happening again.
2. Why are you so concerned about finding employment? If you're as good as you say you are, then there should be no problem. Or are you worried about not being in charge -- working for someone else? Valid concern, but if you don't want to sup with vipers, maybe entrepreneurship isn't for you. Business -- especially high tech -- is not for the meek or squeamish.
3. You're only 24 but are worried about being washed up. Think about it: it's can only be true if you make it so. At your age you've got plenty of time and don't have to worry about age discrimination. I'm 55 and been out of work for almost a year. I could be a genius, but at my age I'm obsolete. Count your blessings.
4. Sounds like you're much more comfortable with other techies than with management. This is handwriting on the wall: maybe you'd rather create things than run things. There's a difference and the two don't mix well. Figure out what's going wrong when you talk to boss-types: what are you bringing to the conversation? Are you doing something to threaten them? Boss-types are paranoid -- they have to be. There's always somebody coming over the hill to get them. That's business, after all....
5. If you can't trust people then don't mess with partners -- OR, just accept that business relationships often include getting beat up. It shouldn't be that way, but it often is. Another million years of human evolution might improve things -- maybe, maybe not.
6. Herndon is in the Northern Virginia region and as such is loaded with or close to many high-tech businesses. If you're what you say you are, I don't see why you couldn't find something here. If you're bringing a pocket full of money, all the better. It's an expensive area to live in. To get a sample of current job offerings visit http://www.careerpath.com and check out the Washington Post employment classifieds.

Dr. Morris

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