But why does Greg need a cofounder?
a few reasons:
a) Technical support b) someone to bounce ideas off of constantly. c) someone to support the organization should he need to take an unexpected leave.
Greg
11–20 of 103 posts
Re: Greg
#12Every success DOES need a guy like Greg. But I really worry about the part where Greg was working on the effort full-time, doing it all while the other guys still worked. When it ends in success, it is a great story. When it ends without success, Greg is the guy who put all his time into it, then ends up with nothing. Greg becomes the warning story. Greg is the guy you need. Not necessarily the guy you want to be.
There is a very, very fine line dividing "chief optimist" from "sucker."
Re: Greg
#13Never let it be forgotten that Sam Altman's first big "success" was Loopt, a gay hookup app that was slowly dying and only even got acquired because a Sequoia board member who invested in it made Green Dot buy it so he wouldn't lose his money. Every time you read one of these arrogant, triumphalist blog posts from Altman, remember that his first big success was really a total failure that got bailed out thanks to a VC backroom deal.
Re: Greg
#14THis stupid hero worship continues. You guys got lucky. Period
Bingo. This reads as self-congratulatory.
I can see where you are coming from - This piece wouldn't hurt to have some recognition from Sam that YC is in a unique/fortunate position and can get great talent because of that, but at the same time, it must get old qualifying everything you're doing with 'this might not be feasible to the lay person/organization but...'
I don't think you need to read too much into it. Sam is reflecting on his personal blog about someone he sees as exceptional, and I really appreciated the piece bc it shows another path to being a successful/useful person.
Re: Greg
#15Every success DOES need a guy like Greg. But I really worry about the part where Greg was working on the effort full-time, doing it all while the other guys still worked. When it ends in success, it is a great story. When it ends without success, Greg is the guy who put all his time into it, then ends up with nothing. Greg becomes the warning story. Greg is the guy you need. Not necessarily the guy you want to be.
There is a very, very fine line dividing "chief optimist" from "sucker."
Sounds like we need a Co-founder basic income?
Re: Greg
#16Every success DOES need a guy like Greg. But I really worry about the part where Greg was working on the effort full-time, doing it all while the other guys still worked. When it ends in success, it is a great story. When it ends without success, Greg is the guy who put all his time into it, then ends up with nothing. Greg becomes the warning story. Greg is the guy you need. Not necessarily the guy you want to be.
There is a very, very fine line dividing "chief optimist" from "sucker."
[deleted]
Re: Greg
#17Every success DOES need a guy like Greg. But I really worry about the part where Greg was working on the effort full-time, doing it all while the other guys still worked. When it ends in success, it is a great story. When it ends without success, Greg is the guy who put all his time into it, then ends up with nothing. Greg becomes the warning story. Greg is the guy you need. Not necessarily the guy you want to be.
Greg is the guy you need. Not necessarily the guy you want to be.
I don't think that's true. At least at the beginning, a "Greg" will be the person who has all the direct contact with mentors, investors, team, suppliers, and customers. A "Greg" will be the "business face" of things (not necessarily who the public see, but who everyone else sees). That's a very good position to be in when things fail or when the company exits.
CEOs go on to start something new. CTOs start interviewing for a new role. People who are a "Greg" find offers coming to them.
Re: Greg
#18> Elon and I were both busy with day jobs ...
Epic, lovely understatement there!
Re: Greg
#19>high latency I wonder if that's a typo.
I think he meant in the Sam->Greg direction
Re: Greg
#20What was the inspiration for the dinner that kicked off OpenAI? What made you invite Greg to it?