Ask HN: Am I missing something?

Has anyone here been in or is maybe currently in a position where they're not sure if they have what it takes to create a successful startup?

I've been working on startups since I was 16. I'm 22 now and I've never built or made anything close to what I'd consider a success. In the last 4 years I've worked extremely hard, dedicating nearly all my free time to planning, building, learning, networking and reading about startups/business with no success. What I find frightening is just how hard it is to judge ones ability, especially when it comes to something as complex as ones ability to create a successful business. I personally believe I have what it takes, but I have to accept all evidence would suggest otherwise. We've all seen the contestants on game shows such as X-Factor that truly believe they're something special when they can't even sing on pitch. Maybe that's me in my own domain. Maybe that's you?

I guess it depends on what you're looking for out of all this. If you're just trying to create a product so that you can offload it down the line then maybe you should question your initial intentions, there are other ways of making money after all.

If on the other hand you want to change society or improve the lives of people and you have recognised a way of doing so then don't give up. Treat your choiec as a journey or adventure. You're going to have set backs and failures and spend many nights thinking about quitting but you will overcome them and the struggles will make you a better person in tthe long run.

Just because you don't get to the summit of everest doesn't mean you haven't achieved anything and it doesn't mean you haven't improved as an individual and it doesn't mean the next time you try to climb you'll fail again either.

Edit: Also, update your blog, its long overdue!

I had my first business at 14. Now 34 (20 (?!) years later. gosh...). Have never knocked one out of the park, but have have some good base hits, and a few doubles. Its all about the game, and how you play it.

I'm about three years into the start-up world (I'm 31 now), and I sometimes ask myself the same question.

What I'm doing a little bit different now is really getting out there trying to sell the mvp after it is built. I get burned more often, but at the very least I know a little bit more on what my customer wants.

Hang in there'

Was there a specific moment in time where knew Parse was going to be huge, or did everything just evolve gradually to you?