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Ask HN: Friend wants to go 50/50 on an "app idea", how do I let him down gently?

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Re: Ask HN: Friend wants to go 50/50 on an "app idea", how do I let him down gently?

#3

Post by sauravt »

jonathanadams wrote: post #2

"Imagine the most beautiful landscape. Now paint it. Now you understand why your great idea for an app is only 1% of the work done."

This is genius, I have a feeling that I will have to use that one pretty soon.

Re: Ask HN: Friend wants to go 50/50 on an "app idea", how do I let him down gently?

#6

Post by puppetmaster3 »

Here is a post: http://blog.ethanvizitei.com/2008/04/all-i-need-is-programme...

But I think the best is that you say: I think this is such a good idea, you should keep 100%. Let me teach you to programm for free. We'll start w/ some basic apps. Here is a good book you can refer and a tutorial site. I'll meet you Saturday's to work w/ you."

Re: Ask HN: Friend wants to go 50/50 on an "app idea", how do I let him down gently?

#8

Post by cellularmitosis »

puppetmaster3 wrote: post #6

Here is a post: http://blog.ethanvizitei.com/2008/04/all-i-need-is-programme... But I think the best is that you say: I think this is such a good idea, you should keep 100%. Let me teach you to programm for free. We'll start w/ some basic apps. Here is a good book you can refer and a tutorial site. I'll meet you Saturday's to work w/ you."

I've done this myself, and this is situation is one of those moments where, if you are really honest with yourself, you discover two opposing motivations within. One the one hand, I'm doing this because I really do enjoy helping anither person attain the superpower that is programming. On the other hand, this is also the most effective way to ensure that you don't actually end up giving up 12 months worth of Saturdays, because most people will drop the idea once they realize the scope of what they are asking.

On the third hand, finding a student who actually stuck with it through a year of Saturdays would be a wonderful experience.

Re: Ask HN: Friend wants to go 50/50 on an "app idea", how do I let him down gently?

#9

Post by brudgers »

By treating the person and their offer as genuine and serious.

It was for 50-50, not some bullshit. Start by asking how they envision their half of the remaining work. Listen to what they have to say. Probably they haven't really thought about it. In that case, they will have a more realistic understanding of the context and what the offer looks like to you. That doesn't mean they will like what they see, just that they will know what is rational.

On the other hand, your friend may have thought the idea through or be willing to do so and if so who knows where things could go. There's a chance that the magic is there.

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