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Ask HN: Can startup founders afford to spend time on "hobbies"?

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Ask HN: Can startup founders afford to spend time on "hobbies"?

#1

Post by wanderboy »

I've been developing a Web application for the past three weeks or so, and as I near launch I find myself wondering whether this needs to take up all of my time in order for it to be successful. My number one priority is building this Web app into a viable startup, but I'm wondering if there's any room for a "hobby" in startup-life. One school of thought is that hobbies prevent you from burning out, but the other espouses the idea that the only startups that are successful are ones in which the founders are 100% committed.

I've been playing the piano for ten or eleven years now, and would like to keep practicing for 45 minutes - 1 hour each day. It's obviously doable at this stage, but if this start-up gets any traction, do I necessarily have to adopt an all-or-nothing approach?

Re: Ask HN: Can startup founders afford to spend time on "hobbies"?

#2

Post by fezzl »

I think that playing the piano provides some variety in your life, and -- from my experience -- variety helps me to be effective. I play the piano too (I have a diploma) and I find that it helps to relax my mind a bit because running a startup is really intense. You probably need some dose of escapism.

Re: Ask HN: Can startup founders afford to spend time on "hobbies"?

#3

Post by jgrahamc »

I think there's a difference between 100% committed and spending 100% of your time on your startup.

For example, would you say that 100% committed means 100% being awake? Probably not, given that you need sleep.

I think the same applies here. You probably need time away from your startup to allow your mind to work its own interior miracles. If I were you I'd play that piano, I bet it'll be a net benefit to your startup.

Re: Ask HN: Can startup founders afford to spend time on "hobbies"?

#5

Post by rokhayakebe »

If you have been playing for years, then keep playing. Actually this hobby of yours may do your startup a lot of good. Think about it, sometimes you get stuck and you just can't find a solution. You take a break, go to sleep, work out or whatever and the solution always comes to you in those moments.

What you do need is a schedule of goals to accomplish daily. If you have accomplish your goal, then you can spend time having fun as a reward.

Re: Ask HN: Can startup founders afford to spend time on "hobbies"?

#6

Post by gte910h »

I'd contend if you don't keep up some semblance of a life (hobbies, friends, etc) while doing any work, you're going to burn out.

You can work * a lot * as long as you keep your life together via social and personal development activities (as well as exercise, don't forget that one).

Re: Ask HN: Can startup founders afford to spend time on "hobbies"?

#8

Post by junklight »

I have a concept that I call "feeding my head" (guess what I was up to in the nineties) - which is reading, listening to and playing music, films , tv and not least spending time with the family.

I know from direct experience that if I neglect this side of things then my creativity - for development and tech and for business solutions to challenges and opportunities - drops off dramatically.

You need to find a balance and do what works - don't be guilt tripped into doing something that does not make sense to you. There are always vocal extremists - people who can get by on 4 hours of sleep, people who eat 1 yogurt a day and work standing up at their desk... you get the idea. And this may well work for them but its not for everyone. Find out what works for you and don't think you are worse for not being able to keep up with the outliers - its about running a business, not about being hard or cool or showing off.

What is NOT good for your business is you burning out and not being able to go the distance. And if there is one other thing I've learned - its going to be much further and much harder work than you think and you need to be able to keep on going.

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