Bad signs:<p>- They are too eager to have you.<p>- All of the critical work is being done by contractors.<p>- &quot;This is just a prototype of the software,&quot; they say, &quot;There&#x27;s no way we&#x27;re going to ship this.&quot; Double the &quot;run away&quot; factor if the company is doing a hardware product and the runway is less than a year . . . maybe two.<p>- Your old boss from two years ago calls you up and says, &quot;Interested in rescuing a start-up?&quot;