Ask HN: Best business advice for software developers

#1

Post by zabana » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 10:55 AM UTC

For those of you who made the jump to entrepreneurship, what is the one thing you wish you knew before starting out ?

Re: Ask HN: Best business advice for software developers

#2

Post by apstyx » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 11:20 AM UTC

I know you said one thing, alas here are 6 one things

1) It takes longer than you think/imagine

2) Start smaller, no smaller still

3) Self fund for as long as possible

4) Be positive, stay positive

5) Identify people you can talk to about your work

6) Be honest with yourself, hard/brutal honesty

Re: Ask HN: Best business advice for software developers

#3

Post by zabana » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 11:31 AM UTC

apstyx wrote: post #2

I know you said one thing, alas here are 6 one things 1) It takes longer than you think/imagine 2) Start smaller, no smaller still 3) Self fund for as long as possible 4) Be positive, stay positive 5) Identify people you can talk to about your work 6) Be honest with yourself, hard/brutal honesty

Thanks for your insight !

Re: Ask HN: Best business advice for software developers

#4

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 11:31 AM UTC

apstyx wrote: post #2

I know you said one thing, alas here are 6 one things 1) It takes longer than you think/imagine 2) Start smaller, no smaller still 3) Self fund for as long as possible 4) Be positive, stay positive 5) Identify people you can talk to about your work 6) Be honest with yourself, hard/brutal honesty

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Best business advice for software developers

#5

Post by throw20161123 » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 11:35 AM UTC

apstyx wrote: post #2

I know you said one thing, alas here are 6 one things 1) It takes longer than you think/imagine 2) Start smaller, no smaller still 3) Self fund for as long as possible 4) Be positive, stay positive 5) Identify people you can talk to about your work 6) Be honest with yourself, hard/brutal honesty

Regarding (6), what were a few brutal truths you had to confront?

Re: Ask HN: Best business advice for software developers

#6

Post by TimJYoung » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 11:48 AM UTC

It will be 20 years next year for me.

My one thing: The software business changes faster than you think, especially when you're young and your frame of reference regarding time is so short. Just when you think you're hitting your stride and the business is cruising, that is when you should be working on your next big thing. If you don't, you're going to find yourself "out of the game" pretty quickly.

Re: Ask HN: Best business advice for software developers

#7

Post by bpizzi » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 11:49 AM UTC

That you already know how to build a software, and what you do need to learn is how to sell a product.

Re: Ask HN: Best business advice for software developers

#8

Post by 1ba9115454 » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 11:52 AM UTC

Marketing.

A developer with marketing skills can build products and achieve revenues far in excess of their skill set.

Re: Ask HN: Best business advice for software developers

#9

Post by jordz » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 11:53 AM UTC

1ba9115454 wrote: post #8

Marketing. A developer with marketing skills can build products and achieve revenues far in excess of their skill set.

This is excellent advice. As a startup with some extremely talented engineers we build amazing products but if no one knows about it, then you've got a bigger problem.

Re: Ask HN: Best business advice for software developers

#10

Post by astoilkov » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 11:54 AM UTC

You could check out Indie Hackers. It's the most amazing place for software developers to learn from example. https://www.indiehackers.com