You Don't Have What It Takes
calacanis.com
You Don't Have What It Takes
1–10 of 18 posts
Re: You Don't Have What It Takes
#2Ugh.
Don't listen to a puffed up experts or self-assigned gate-keepers rehashing generic fluff (click-baity title included!) to get out another tired blogpost.
The only takeaway from this post should be: find mentors so you can accelerate your learning.
Now, whether you want to accelerate learning how to be an employee or to be a founder is up to you.
Because ain't nothing to it, but to do it.
Re: You Don't Have What It Takes
#3Sometimes this is true.
And many people are smart and strategic enough to be able to launch successful startups while sacrificing very little personally.
Persistence matters more than personal sacrifice, in my mind.
Re: You Don't Have What It Takes
#4Wow, that was amazingly condescending. "Too many students, not enough teachers" is real, and likely applicable here, but that could have been said in 40 words. And it sure as hell didn't need the air of "I'm God's gift to Silicon Valley."
Re: You Don't Have What It Takes
#5I'm really not a fan of the "you have to sell your house!" rhetoric. Why is it that in startups, people who do unethical/obviously stupid things in pursuit of a rare chance at possible money are considered desirable?
Is there data that suggests that such people actually found and lead successful startups?
Re: You Don't Have What It Takes
#6Giving up after reading an article telling to quit. Definitely is a sign you ain't got what it takes.
Re: You Don't Have What It Takes
#7I'm really not a fan of the "you have to sell your house!" rhetoric. Why is it that in startups, people who do unethical/obviously stupid things in pursuit of a rare chance at possible money are considered desirable? Is there data that suggests that such people actually found and lead successful startups?
I don't think you have to sell your house. But in a startup, with at least 80% probability, you are going to be faced with a choice along the lines of "Do I sell my house to keep this thing running for another month, and hope it takes off? Or do I kill it now, and write off the last year and all the money I've already lost?"
Note: the 80% probability claim is based on my understanding of the probability of a startup failing.
Re: You Don't Have What It Takes
#8Ugh. Don't listen to a puffed up experts or self-assigned gate-keepers rehashing generic fluff (click-baity title included!) to get out another tired blogpost. The only takeaway from this post should be: find mentors so you can accelerate your learning. Now, whether you want to accelerate learning how to be an employee or to be a founder is up to you. Because ain't nothing to it, but to do it.
I didn't see it that way at all. In the current environment (especially somewhere like HN), there's a constant chorus saying that A Startup Is What You Should Do. Pointing out that it comes with the real possibility of destroying your personal finances is in fact a valuable service to those thinking of doing a startup.
It's not all rainbows and unicorns out there.
Re: You Don't Have What It Takes
#9[deleted]
Re: You Don't Have What It Takes
#10I'm really not a fan of the "you have to sell your house!" rhetoric. Why is it that in startups, people who do unethical/obviously stupid things in pursuit of a rare chance at possible money are considered desirable? Is there data that suggests that such people actually found and lead successful startups?
If your self funding you can do things how ever you want. If you want other people's money you need something special. They need to believe your bullshit is worth more than the money in their pocket. Which means you need to believe in your bullshit more than that. And if it is why wouldn't you be working 90 hours a week to make it happen.