If you are talking 2 weeks monthly, and you are considering 2 people for the two split roles, you might end up travelling the whole time (or "just" 4 weeks a month :)).
Not sure if you ever travelled for a week or more monthly, but I did it for a year or two, and it was mentally and physically taxing: you are packing and unpacking constantly, you are missing family and friend events, and it's hard to plan and create family. Or settle in a new home. Or do any personal project that requires more than a month (from improving your bike to taking a cooking course).
I agree, it's a sacrifice. Yes, I've traveled a lot. I'm an ex-executive.
I'm 53, two kids (one grown up), no pressure to build a family. On the other hand, even when I was younger, my family would not see me anyway (except weekends).
I frame it like this: I've got to do whatever it takes to take the startup through this most difficult period.
I feel like you’re focused on the cost but not the other aspects eg do you really want to constantly spend 2 weeks in a hotel away from your wife? Or is someone you train for 2 weeks really going to give you the characteristics you desire for your team? Or is a part time adviser in another place really going to give you the credibility you desire?
I'm super productive away in a hotel!! And not productive at home (everyone wants my attention).
Cost is important, but #1 is getting things done.
Training for 2 weeks - I keep it to 5 days, yes it is enough. They are already full stack (this is a full stack engineer job) pros. Obviously, they don't know everything - in that case I tell them: "Ask Claude/Claude Code; if Claude/Claude Code does not help you, ask me."
I give them a relatively small piece of work and see if they sink or swim situation. Some people step up. I want to work with these people.
I wish I could clone myself - and I now, I think I can, thanks to AI agents. Let me hack a clone agent right now.
This is an inverse of the Australian > billion tonne per annum resources industry that has operated via FiFo (Fly In | Fly Out) for longer than two decades.
If the economics and schedules work for the people taking part it's clearly sustainable.
The great thing about IT is the software people can be remote from the hardware and anywhere they can collaborate can be the (or one of several work hubs).
Even the hardware engineers can live remote from hardware hubs if they're happy to FiFo for on site direct hands on support shifts.
If you are talking 2 weeks monthly, and you are considering 2 people for the two split roles, you might end up travelling the whole time (or "just" 4 weeks a month :)).
Not sure if you ever travelled for a week or more monthly, but I did it for a year or two, and it was mentally and physically taxing: you are packing and unpacking constantly, you are missing family and friend events, and it's hard to plan and create family. Or settle in a new home. Or do any personal project that requires more than a month (from improving your bike to taking a cooking course).
I agree, it's a sacrifice. Yes, I've traveled a lot. I'm an ex-executive.
I'm 53, two kids (one grown up), no pressure to build a family. On the other hand, even when I was younger, my family would not see me anyway (except weekends).
I frame it like this: I've got to do whatever it takes to take the startup through this most difficult period.
I feel like you’re focused on the cost but not the other aspects eg do you really want to constantly spend 2 weeks in a hotel away from your wife? Or is someone you train for 2 weeks really going to give you the characteristics you desire for your team? Or is a part time adviser in another place really going to give you the credibility you desire?
I'm super productive away in a hotel!! And not productive at home (everyone wants my attention).
Cost is important, but #1 is getting things done.
Training for 2 weeks - I keep it to 5 days, yes it is enough. They are already full stack (this is a full stack engineer job) pros. Obviously, they don't know everything - in that case I tell them: "Ask Claude/Claude Code; if Claude/Claude Code does not help you, ask me."
I give them a relatively small piece of work and see if they sink or swim situation. Some people step up. I want to work with these people.
I wish I could clone myself - and I now, I think I can, thanks to AI agents. Let me hack a clone agent right now.
This is an inverse of the Australian > billion tonne per annum resources industry that has operated via FiFo (Fly In | Fly Out) for longer than two decades.
If the economics and schedules work for the people taking part it's clearly sustainable.
The great thing about IT is the software people can be remote from the hardware and anywhere they can collaborate can be the (or one of several work hubs).
Even the hardware engineers can live remote from hardware hubs if they're happy to FiFo for on site direct hands on support shifts.
Thank you for being positive! Much appreciated!