A project for this summer

Today, one of our professors called me to talk about the system they had. They had made a proof-of-concept, and tested it for several months, and now they were going to re-design and re-build the system from scratch. So, they were looking for someone like me to do that. He suggested me not to go for internship this summer to work on this project. We also talked about entrepreneurship possibilities for this project, and he told me that he was very interested to commercialize this system. During the conversation, he was very excited about my comments. I also was very excited about the project.

For me, it is a hard decision. I don’t have any internship offer yet, but I expect to get several in the next month. There is only one month and half to summer, and I am still looking for a position. On the other hand, this project is very interesting, and I would like to have a share in it. In fact, it is more match to my future goals. If I can do a great job in this project, I would have a good chance to become a millionaire or famous enough to see Ms. Taylor. In my point of view, they can’t find anyone better than me to finish this project. In addition, companies’ interviews are hard for me as I don’t have enough time to study interview questions.

During the conversation he told me, “Make me a millionaire, I’ll make you a millionaire.” Actually, I don’t care to be a millionaire, but I like his idea and his motivation. I told him that something we should wait for the technology. He agreed and told me about some of his previous experiences. He told me that he spent 40 million dollar to invent a technology in one of his projects; however, once they invented it, they needed 100 million dollar more to finish the project! He also told me about his future ideas about this system. I had agreement with him regarding some of his ideas. However, I think that he is thinking far behind possibilities. To me, we should do our today duties, and wait for the future instead of being concerned about it. I also gave him Steve Blank’s course in Udacity website.

After that meeting, I was very happy. I thought that this could be a great opportunity for my future. Although if I would like to stay in the university for the entire summer, I would have lower income, but successfully finishing this project worth more than an average internship. If I had a chance to be in a top company, the rules would be different. In the following days, I should decide about their job.

Let’s do a simple evaluation here.

pros (not going for internship):

• I like this project.
• The team sounds strong enough to continue it.
• There is a million dollar competition behind this project, and we may have a chance to win that competition.
• The person, who I talked to, was a CEO of another company. He is interested in doing real projects, not just a hackneyed research to get fund from NSF,…
• The project is toward my future goals from two points: The system can help lots of people in the world. And they would like to commercialize the project, and I have a chance to start my own company with them (instead of doing it all alone).
• I don’t need to be concerned about internship, and interviews anymore.
• Maybe I have a chance to see Angelina during the summer to create a stronger friendship.
• There is also another project here that I could be involved in. This project has also an opportunity to become a company in the near future.
• Maybe I have a chance to define my thesis topic related to these projects.
• I will make a stronger connection with well-known professors in my own university.

cons:

• I can’t make lots of money for the summer. So, I won't be able to visit my family as I don’t have money to buy tickets for them.
• I can’t experience living in another city. I am feeling bored here now because it is more than 7 months that I am living here, and I haven’t go anywhere yet.
• It is a negative point in my resume that I didn't go for internship anywhere. Although my goal is to have my own business, there is a possibility that I have no chance to start it within a few years. This may cause me not to find a good position in the future.
• I should take some courses for my entire summer; so, I can’t rest after two semesters.
• I’ll lose my chance to make connections with those who are in the Bay area, and have their own business or would like to create a new one.
• I have no time to work on my own idea. I don’t know whether my idea would be successful or not, but certainly it won’t be successful without working on it.

It seems that the benefit of doing that project is more than going for an internship. I have another meeting this Monday with that professor, and then I will think more about it.