Ask HN: What interests tech people when talking to a non-tech person? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What interests tech people when talking to a non-tech person?

#11

Post by tamle » Sat, Sep 17, 2011, 4:49 PM UTC

leeHS wrote: post #7

tamle wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmmm - so evidence of hustle (lots of evidence smart hustling of course) can help build trust? Or at least the start of it? Thank you for this insight, it's much appreciated.

If you're only talking about trust, then no. I've meet people with lots of hustle that I could never trust. I guess it's a package deal. I need to trust you, and know you have hustle. The trust comes over time. But your past helps. What other partnerships have you been in? Can I talk to those individuals? As for hustle...I should probably explain what I'm talking about. I'm an introverted techie who would rather be u…

I'm a Web/Mobile Product Manager (did this in the Bay Area for 4 years) turned MBA student with a strong desire to start my own startup.

To copy and paste from my linkedin: I am an untraditional MBA student.

I find it difficult to digest traditional/big corporate ways of thinking and because of that I spend most of my time outside of class helping Austin entrepreneurs refine and develop their businesses: as of Sept 2011, I am working at two different startups as well as trying to launch two businesses of my own and help another person launch theirs. Additionally, I advise 19 first year MBA students as they begin their entrepreneurial journey.

With that said, I still make sure to do all my work as I do have a responsibility to my group members who may take getting an MBA more seriously than I do.

In short - I hustle. I do work.

Expected to graduate in May 2012

Focus: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Social Enterprise, Lean Startups /copy and paste

Because of my experience as a product manager I actually do have experience working with developers, so a lot of the advice I've been given here rings true - but starting a company with someone such as yourself is way different. I actually know one tech person whose philosophy is to just not work with business people as he thinks he can do everything himself - more power to him.

Thus, my inquiry.

It's funny you bring up marriage. I was debating with someone the other day who you have to trust more - your business partner/co-founder or your spouse. Either or, both can screw you. Haha.

Re: Ask HN: What interests tech people when talking to a non-tech person?

#12

Post by tamle » Sat, Sep 17, 2011, 4:52 PM UTC

evincarofautumn wrote: post #8

tamle wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. "If I were an investor, I would have to want to invest in us." That makes so much sense, I can't believe I've never thought of it in that light before. 2. Agreed. 3. "You probably have to make it actually worth my while." - Specifically, is this money/equity? Or is there another dimension I'm overlooking? 4. If I'm understanding you correctly: you want to work with someone more passionate about figuring out how to…

Money is important, but interesting challenges rank a little higher for me. If I'd be solving a really cool problem, I'd be willing to take a risk by accepting more in equity than cash. Fliko's comment covers #4.

This is very good to know... Evincarofautumn, do you think most people similar to you feel this way?

Re: Ask HN: What interests tech people when talking to a non-tech person?

#13

Post by evincarofautumn » Sat, Sep 17, 2011, 5:55 PM UTC

tamle wrote: post #12

evincarofautumn wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Money is important, but interesting challenges rank a little higher for me. If I'd be solving a really cool problem, I'd be willing to take a risk by accepting more in equity than cash. Fliko's comment covers #4.

This is very good to know... Evincarofautumn, do you think most people similar to you feel this way?

I can't speak for anyone else, but if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say so.

Re: Ask HN: What interests tech people when talking to a non-tech person?

#14

Post by RealGeek » Sat, Sep 17, 2011, 7:02 PM UTC

Money

Re: Ask HN: What interests tech people when talking to a non-tech person?

#15

Post by pawn » Sun, Sep 18, 2011, 1:24 AM UTC

I briefly entertained the idea of doing business a while back and it didn't last past the first meeting. The first problem was that he didn't respect the technical side, and he had a pretty technically complex idea with no clue how it'd be implemented. You don't want to tell someone how hard their job isn't unless you actually know, and even if you do, you don't make friends that way.

Another corralary tidbit is that I tend to like people who I feel I share at least some common interest with. If I say I like videogames and you immediately dismiss them as something you outgrew, I immediately have a lower impression of you. Don't let me catch you pretending though. That's pretty irritating and tells me you're not trustworthy.

Dale Carnegie does a good job of teaching how to get along with people. I was skeptical at first but he's got some good stuff.

Re: Ask HN: What interests tech people when talking to a non-tech person?

#16

Post by tamle » Thu, Sep 22, 2011, 9:45 PM UTC

pawn wrote: post #15

I briefly entertained the idea of doing business a while back and it didn't last past the first meeting. The first problem was that he didn't respect the technical side, and he had a pretty technically complex idea with no clue how it'd be implemented. You don't want to tell someone how hard their job isn't unless you actually know, and even if you do, you don't make friends that way. Another corralary tidbit is that…

Hey Pawn - did that person think, "oh you just need to go build it and everything will be fine?"

If so, I completely understand why it didn't get past round 1.

Speaking of video games - play anything good lately?

Re: Ask HN: What interests tech people when talking to a non-tech person?

#17

Post by pawn » Sat, Oct 01, 2011, 3:18 AM UTC

tamle wrote: post #16

pawn wrote: post #15

I briefly entertained the idea of doing business a while back and it didn't last past the first meeting. The first problem was that he didn't respect the technical side, and he had a pretty technically complex idea with no clue how it'd be implemented. You don't want to tell someone how hard their job isn't unless you actually know, and even if you do, you don't make friends that way. Another corralary tidbit is that…

Hey Pawn - did that person think, "oh you just need to go build it and everything will be fine?" If so, I completely understand why it didn't get past round 1. Speaking of video games - play anything good lately?

Yeah, he had it in his mind that someone could build it in a few weeks and walk away, and he'd be set from that point forward.

On the videogames question, I've actually been working on creating an xbox live indie game and expect to be done in a few weeks. So, I haven't been gaming much lately, been focusing pretty hard on trying to wrap up. I did download the free zelda game for 3ds and had fun with it for an hour.