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Ask HN: Starting over after business failure

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Re: Ask HN: Starting over after business failure

#41

Post by metal13 »

pgt wrote: post #26
bramkrom wrote: post #23

Some people have given solid advice here on financial restrictions, so will focus on the 'fire for building' part. Recently listened to a podcast of Tim Ferris, where he interviewed Tony Fadell - who built the iPod, iPhone and Nest. In it, he makes a serious case for getting bored. He explains how he uses it to drive new ideas, such as how it helped him get the clarity of mind to get the idea of Nest, and how afterwa…

An important aspect of fostering boredom is avoiding gratification like Netflix or Twitter (which I am hugely guilty of).

Underrated comment. Those things are great, but when your minds' entertainment comes from outside, you never rebuild the creative muscle.

Re: Ask HN: Starting over after business failure

#42

Post by nudpiedo »

contingencies wrote: post #35

A penny saved is a penny earned. Instead of focusing on making more money, focus on spending less. This reduces pressure, increases health and time to think and be creative. In my adult life I have spent years in low expense scenarios learning and creating. Forget the herd, do what you want to do. Move to a cheap place (avoid anywhere with a 'digital nomad' community) and go swimming, surfing, rock-climbing or cyclin…

Can you elaborate more the "avoid anywhere with a 'digital nomad' community"? Isn't that supposed to be a positive network or alike people/entrepreneurs? How do you keep your networking/customers/support network in an isolated cheap area?

Re: Ask HN: Starting over after business failure

#43

Post by endymi0n »

metal13 wrote: post #41
pgt wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An important aspect of fostering boredom is avoiding gratification like Netflix or Twitter (which I am hugely guilty of).

Underrated comment. Those things are great, but when your minds' entertainment comes from outside, you never rebuild the creative muscle.

Playing a game or watching a movie feels good — but at the same time, you're living someone elses' dreams. All this dopamine, all this adrenaline will feel so good and make you tired just enough to conveniently forget about your own.

Re: Ask HN: Starting over after business failure

#44

Post by todaysAI »

legitster wrote: post #13
itake wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All the big companies are freezing hiring. This doesn't seem like practical advice.

But running your own business is a surefire way to get to the top of an applicant list.

YMMV. Some companies will not hire people that they feel are too entrepreneurial. Sitting in a cubicle and being happy is a much different mindset for someone who has run their own business before.

Re: Ask HN: Starting over after business failure

#45

Post by contingencies »

nudpiedo wrote: post #42
contingencies wrote: post #35

A penny saved is a penny earned. Instead of focusing on making more money, focus on spending less. This reduces pressure, increases health and time to think and be creative. In my adult life I have spent years in low expense scenarios learning and creating. Forget the herd, do what you want to do. Move to a cheap place (avoid anywhere with a 'digital nomad' community) and go swimming, surfing, rock-climbing or cyclin…

Can you elaborate more the "avoid anywhere with a 'digital nomad' community"? Isn't that supposed to be a positive network or alike people/entrepreneurs? How do you keep your networking/customers/support network in an isolated cheap area?

I often build something that takes time before taking customers. Doing this in an isolated location keeps costs down, assists focus and allows free intellectual exploration without outside influence.

Re: Ask HN: Starting over after business failure

#46

Post by [deleted] »

contingencies wrote: post #35

A penny saved is a penny earned. Instead of focusing on making more money, focus on spending less. This reduces pressure, increases health and time to think and be creative. In my adult life I have spent years in low expense scenarios learning and creating. Forget the herd, do what you want to do. Move to a cheap place (avoid anywhere with a 'digital nomad' community) and go swimming, surfing, rock-climbing or cyclin…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Starting over after business failure

#47

Post by throes_death »

contingencies wrote: post #35

A penny saved is a penny earned. Instead of focusing on making more money, focus on spending less. This reduces pressure, increases health and time to think and be creative. In my adult life I have spent years in low expense scenarios learning and creating. Forget the herd, do what you want to do. Move to a cheap place (avoid anywhere with a 'digital nomad' community) and go swimming, surfing, rock-climbing or cyclin…

Thanks, but not really practical for us (2 kids in school and partner with great career and tenure).

We do live frugally however which is how I was able to start the business in the first place. We traveled a lot when we were younger but now we live what many would probably call a "boring" life. We're anti-consumerist, minimalists I suppose and we're happy with that ;-)

Re: Ask HN: Starting over after business failure

#48

Post by predictmktegirl »

After I exited my last business, it took me 3 years to finally get up to feeling ready again. I also went to a dark place for a while. My best advice is to keep your head up and think more about the present than the future, at least for a little while. Keep yourself busy and avoid things that feel too cumbersome or dreadful. Exercise and treat your body well.

In between battling depression and anxiety over the years, I started doodling things again. Those doodles turned into thought experiments, into reading research papers, into connecting into a new field. I'm feeling more energized these days about starting something new, and more excited about working on a startup again.

I wish there was some way I could have avoided falling into the emotional abyss and spending so many years there. Maybe I should have focused on building more friendships over the years instead of being a loner. You really start to take for granted such things until the isolation of failure sinks in. Hopefully this time I will find a co-founder willing to go to felt with me. I'm not sure I can endure another solo fail.

Re: Ask HN: Starting over after business failure

#49

Post by throes_death »

throw03172019 wrote: post #2

I wish I took some time off in between startups. I’d suggest taking some time off to clear your mind and rejuvenate. If you have the ability, traveling can help (although this is tough now with the virus outbreak).

Thanks! I might take this advice. I can certainly spend a week or two doing general maintenance in the yard and around the house.

Re: Ask HN: Starting over after business failure

#50

Post by throes_death »

bramkrom wrote: post #23

Some people have given solid advice here on financial restrictions, so will focus on the 'fire for building' part. Recently listened to a podcast of Tim Ferris, where he interviewed Tony Fadell - who built the iPod, iPhone and Nest. In it, he makes a serious case for getting bored. He explains how he uses it to drive new ideas, such as how it helped him get the clarity of mind to get the idea of Nest, and how afterwa…

Thank you. I think just spending a few weeks doing some maintenance jobs around the house and yard is what I need.
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