Why do I hear a voice whispering "oxymoron" when I read that phrase?

Eight startups in what period of time?

Somewhere I remember something about only one in thirteen companies succeed. That means success is now getting close.

Have not yet read the article, but Time Magazine says something about 30% of high school students don't even graduate. I was shocked to learn that something like only 20% of the population goes to college. Where I graduated from, 80+% went on to college.

So yes, schools I fear are no longer educating as they once did. But back then, parents always showed up on Parents Teacher night. Today, in some schools, few parents arrive. Furthermore, those same parents would blame a school rather then themselves. We so teach rights and forgot to teach responsibilities. Parental responsibilities.

Does Time Magazine now reflect what has happened? Those are not immigrants who cannot bother to be educated. Those who don't want education are a significant precentage of current teenagers that I know. Those are life long Americans who can't be bothered to get even basic education? Funny. They are also the generation of teenagers whose smoking is more than doubled.

Because you're in Philadelphia.

Oct 1983 - Oct 1985

I did 10 years as a Research Scientist at a small private university in Pittsburgh.

Sept 1995 - present 2006

One company I quit after just 5 weeks, but it was a big experience nonethless. Another was for just 5 months, again big experience. Some lessons learned. The rest were at least one year.

Actually, third time was the charm. I moved my family of 4 from Pittsburgh to Silicon Valley in Aug 1997 to join a company of 6 people. Company started from nothing and $1.8MM investment. One year later we launched our product and sold the company for stock-swap of $90MM. I was the Dir of Software Engiinnering. The stock of that company went from $12.50 in 18 months to $241.00. Then in about a year to $1.65.

The startups I joined in Pittsburgh had little chance. But, out here in the Silicon Valley, you increase your odds by finding people with good track records and join their company. For the successful company I mentioned above, the founders were VPs at a previous startup that is now a successful large public 20 yo company.

My 7th startup is still privately held but profitable for 3 years. My current startup just launched it's first product 3 weeks ago.

For the bean counters out there:

(1) 24 months acquired after 12 years
(2) 16 months acquired after 6 months
(3) 12 months acquired after 12 months
(4) 01 months bust after 20 months ($3OMM of investment down the drain)
(5) 05 months acquired after 18 months
(6) 48 months acquired after 48 months
(7) 16 months private
(8) 03 months private present
-------------
Total 125 months
16 months average

I know in this Post-Mari-gate era people want more accountability.

Thru PMs back and forth, I enabled MaggiieL to confirm my work experience. So, let's ditch the thread derailment and go back to the main topic....

All Americans are immigrants or decendents, whether it be across an ocean or the Bering Strait. We all face economic benefit and challenge from the newer immigrants, whether they be illegal or legal.

I disagree that you can equate legal and illegal immigrants.

Never said you can equate them. But, they both cause wage suppression and reduced opportunity. My local job market is now international.