I think you need to keep a little perspective. You aren't the first guy to waste a bunch of time on a side project that didn't go anywhere.
1. this was a side project!?! you can't expect great results from a side project. if something happens, then great, if not, well .... you still have a job.
2. Don't you first need to _have something_ before it is conned from you. I certainly didn't hear of any great technical achievements that would have lead to success.
3. Maybe you didn't like the direction the project took. But it sounds like your partner was right about one thing, dealing w/ your dojo guy did get the attention of the Secret guru. It seems like the involvement of the Secret guru is the only thing the project had going for it at one point. And as I mentioned prior, you didn't mention any great technical successes that would have lead to a breakout.
Like i said, welcome to the club of failed side projects.
I'm biased to defend founders, but in that story, I'm not particularly on the author's side.
Yes, the guru was probably abusing the situation. But the author refuses to quit his job and rejects an offer for a $250,000 seed investment. The guru does provide a key connection.
Even a legit guru would have become frustrated with the author by then, and tried to get rid of him.
I'm also not shocked by someone who spends $900 on flowers for their home. If you have the money, why not? The author is just showing how young he is. Driving a BMW is also not proof of cardinal sin :-)
Sounds like the con-couple charged tens of thousands of leisure expenses to the business, which leads me to believe there was some revenue to speak of and at least some of that was generated by work the author completed.
I admit this is not the worst it could have been, but the author got out fairly soon. His friend seems to really be getting screwed.
I think you need to keep a little perspective. You aren't the first guy to waste a bunch of time on a side project that didn't go anywhere.
1. this was a side project!?! you can't expect great results from a side project. if something happens, then great, if not, well .... you still have a job.
2. Don't you first need to _have something_ before it is conned from you. I certainly didn't hear of any great technical achievements that would have lead to success.
3. Maybe you didn't like the direction the project took. But it sounds like your partner was right about one thing, dealing w/ your dojo guy did get the attention of the Secret guru. It seems like the involvement of the Secret guru is the only thing the project had going for it at one point. And as I mentioned prior, you didn't mention any great technical successes that would have lead to a breakout.
Like i said, welcome to the club of failed side projects.