This is true. It is a problem that this is taking up so much unwarranted space in my mind. But that's why I finally wrote about it and am seeking advice.
To play devil's advocate, wouldn't it also be a red flag to have someone in your fund who simply rolls over and gives up when they have been clearly wronged?
You did well in exposing this to other's so you don't get trapped in your own perception. Hats off to that.
You were wronged, no question about that. What I'm trying to show you is that you are not in lack of reasons to engage in such a thing. But in the other hand you have even better reasons not to.
Is not about swallowing it, is about raising you to a higher level were you not only not need to worry about that anymore but you can be even grateful that you learned the lessons that experience had teached you.
There are lots of good things waiting for you ahead if you make the space for them to come. So I'd suggest that life will be better if you don't try to be Batman and you make room for more positive things.
Following your metaphor, the devil will love to play with you in court but he cannot be part of your life if you don't give him permission
I've remembered a technique I've learned somewhere that might be of use to you these days. This is good for when you are under some kind of pressure to make a decision that is not exactly peaceful: when in doubt, don't act.
Don't let your emotional drive your decisions.
If you want to go serious in making a decision about this, I'd risk to say that this is the book your future self would like you to have read now:
http://heathbrothers.com/books/decisive/
> not thinking about stuff isn't always as straightforward as just pushing it out of your mind
That has been the problem. I will 'get over' it and not think about it for months, but eventually I am reminded of the situation and angry thoughts return.
Whether I eventually take legal action or not, these seem like useful techniques.
Thanks for your input. I did send an invoice four years ago, but he ignored it. Another complicating factor is that the project (and company) is long dead.
My next step, as many have suggested as well, is likely to consult a professional of specialized letter writers.
> [make] it a point from now until your dying day to always tell young freelancers "ALWAYS GET A CONTRACT"
Resend a demand for payment. The possible answers include "A check." and "A universe of other responses, any of which you can get checked by a letter-writer." For example, "X Corp owes you money. I don't." is entirely possible. It is an incredible step forward over where you are today.
Four years ago I worked with him on Project A. Project A never got funded and died after our dispute. The 2/3 email relates to Project A.
However, while Project A was in progress, he presented it as his own work to land himself a job as an investor, and then used that to land himself a seed round for a tangentially related but materially different Project B years later.
I make no claims for the funding he received from Project B -- it's just bothersome that he earned it off of my back (to a degree).
based on this you are 100% suffering from sour grapes, because whereas HE was able to "present project A" in a certain light to get a totally separate gig and build a totally separate business, you yourself do not have adtruth_b that you were able to pitch to investors by mischaracterizing the success of Project A as a big success, and getting your own seed round for a tangentally related but materially different business.
you're just jealous that he is smoother than you!!
you are right, I didn't read the long story, just the comments I replied to.
but if he had gotten the 2/3 payment it would have been long-since spent by now. his problem specifically seems to be that the guy,
>However, while Project A was in progress, he presented it as his own work to land himself a job as an investor, and then used that to land himself a seed round for a tangentially related but materially different Project B years later.
>I make no claims for the funding he received from Project B -- it's just bothersome that he earned it off of my back (to a degree).
It simply sounds like sour grapes. This is in the longer version too:
>Shortly after, the client presented the site I had built in job and business school interviews and on his LinkedIn profile. He landed himself a job at an investment firm working as an advisor for startups, worked there for a few years, and managed to land himself a seed round as CEO of a company that -- get this -- provides business and accounting support for startups.
>Now, four years later, I am more established and quite satisfied with my career. I can afford legal representation. But I am having trouble letting this go. I think about it often. The money isn't the issue -- it's a matter of pride. This guy used me for his own financial benefit, lied to me, and is now starting a business purportedly to help freelancers.
A central theme by OP is that the guy "used him". But OP could have also "used project A" to land OP_project_B and seed funding for it. it's just that he didn't.
honestly, this seriously comes off as sour grapes given the extra information I've now read.
I accidentally commented using the wrong account -- that's the [deleted] reply above. Here's the content:
He used the project as an example of his work in order to get an investor job four years ago. Once he got the job, he abandoned the project altogether. None of my IP is at risk -- the project is dead, he never had repo access, and his new venture is unrelated in terms of the tech.
At the time, he had assembled a 'board' of well-known startup folks. I considered emailing them at the time as you described, but feared that the drama would have a negative impact on my very young freelance career and decided not to.
I have emails containing documenting specific requirements, which he agreed to, and emails / chat logs where he says he's happy with the project and ready to go live with it. Everything but the formal contract.
