Entrepreneurs don’t have a gene for risk – they come from families with money

Post by math » Tue, Sep 01, 2015, 11:54 AM UTC

maratd wrote: post #17

radmuzom wrote: post #11

Ten years back, when I was fresh out of college, I joined a startup - not as a founder but as the first employee. A lot of it was driven by reading Paul Graham's essays, and I was naive and immature enough to believe that I was doing something great (as an aside, I came from an economically disadvantaged family; and every cent of my assets today is something I have earned and not something which I have inherited or o…

> It is very hard to take risks when you are not financially secure There's a caveat here. It depends on your responsibilities. If you have children, fixed expenses, then absolutely. If you have nothing to your name and no responsibilities, it's very easy to take risks without anything to fall back on. After all, you have very little to lose.

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Sep 01, 2015, 12:03 PM UTC

maratd wrote: post #17

radmuzom wrote: post #11

Ten years back, when I was fresh out of college, I joined a startup - not as a founder but as the first employee. A lot of it was driven by reading Paul Graham's essays, and I was naive and immature enough to believe that I was doing something great (as an aside, I came from an economically disadvantaged family; and every cent of my assets today is something I have earned and not something which I have inherited or o…

> It is very hard to take risks when you are not financially secure There's a caveat here. It depends on your responsibilities. If you have children, fixed expenses, then absolutely. If you have nothing to your name and no responsibilities, it's very easy to take risks without anything to fall back on. After all, you have very little to lose.

Post by elros » Tue, Sep 01, 2015, 12:06 PM UTC

vixen99 wrote: post #20

branchless wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The rich and powerful lionize the rare exception who does make it out of poverty because it justifies the (largely) unfair system.

The dictionary I've used comes up for 'unfair' as 1. Contrary to justice or a sense of fairness 2. Contrary to laws or conventions, especially in commerce; unethical: unfair dealing and 3. Not kind or considerate. Which one do you mean?

Post by phaemon » Tue, Sep 01, 2015, 12:08 PM UTC

warkid wrote: post #12

bildung wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> “This whole bulk of the population is being seduced into thinking that they can just go out and pursue their dream anytime, but it’s not true.” > Cool. Know your place, leave enterpreneurship to blue bloods - that's the conclusion? No. "When basic needs are met, it’s easier to be creative; when you know you have a safety net, you are more willing to take risks. “ The solution is providing a social safety net that e…

> The solution is providing a social safety net that enables... In other words - "to each according to his needs"?

Post by kang » Tue, Sep 01, 2015, 12:23 PM UTC

patrickaljord wrote: post #28

bildung wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> “This whole bulk of the population is being seduced into thinking that they can just go out and pursue their dream anytime, but it’s not true.” > Cool. Know your place, leave enterpreneurship to blue bloods - that's the conclusion? No. "When basic needs are met, it’s easier to be creative; when you know you have a safety net, you are more willing to take risks. “ The solution is providing a social safety net that e…

> The solution is providing a social safety net that enables that bulk of the population to pursue their dream. We have a huge "social safety net" here in France and yet we are way less entrepreneurial than in the US. I moved to Peru for 4 years to save some money and then came back to start a business, the entrepreneurial spirit was way strong stronger there even though the social safety net is inexistent. Fact is,…