Not asking for legal advice here, more how to handle things emotionally.
Long story short, we started a joint venture with another company last year and they stiffed us on payment and walked off with the IP we built. I won’t go into details, but they’ve got deeper pockets than us, and are trying to intimidate us into walking away.
I’ve got lawyers working on it, and we’re taking all the steps to handle it well. But fuckingdamn if it’s not an emotional load. Sleepless nights, angry days, the works.
While I’m hopeful we’ll have a good outcome (we were solid about documenting everything), it looks like it’ll be a long road.
I’m using it as a solid learning curve. But: How have you guys handled similar situations emotionally? Especially when it looks like it’ll take another 1 - 2 years to sort out. Feels like it’s taken the wind out of my sails.
[Edit: Grammar]
I completely understand you and exactly how you are feeling. This is a thing where you must put your emotions aside and keep creating. That is extremely hard but it is possible! Creating something new and working on it constantly helps a bunch. Time will fly by as lawsuits will take time, but your motivation will build because you have something new you are working on and watching it develop even if it is just a small presentation or beginning of a business plan. I speak from direct experience…, in fact if it makes you feel better, your not alone or the only one. I am currently going through the exact same thing, I created a revolutionary technology that creates a completely new industry using a mobile phone. I created it and worked on it 12 years, brought a partner in 10 years ago, got screwed over (I was not vigilant and paying attention to my stomach), partner ran off with the IP along with turning every investor against me and destroying my reputation in the industry we were building off of to enter the new niche with my technology. I lost 2.5 million in shares and am owed a few hundred thousand, to dead broke and rebuilding again (this is recent). This does happen, and you have to stay strong and keep creating. I took my time out to write you because I deeply feel you regarding your situation! Nothing like someone who is knows what your going through. Work on something new like I am doing myself.
Hey! I so appreciate you taking the time to message me. Mine is a fraction of the time and size, so I can barely imagine how you’re feeling.
That sounds very wise, and makes a lot of sense. I think part of it is getting over the sense of loss, and realizing that if you’ve built something once — you can build something else valuable again. But man is it a kick in the stomach.
I hope your situation turns out well. But I’m very glad to hear that you’re finding ways to move through it. I’ll absolutely take that input. Thanks again!
No problem! These things happen unfortunately but the real value is in your creative imagination, your mind. We all fall down and get back up again. Even if that company seems as strong as an oak tree, remember that tree can produce millions of match sticks, but with time and patience, one of those match sticks can burn down that entire tree. You can always rebuild and most importantly, continue to create. Karma is very real, for motivation, look at the lost “and found again” interview of Steve Jobs… Take care!