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Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

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Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#171

Post by canadapups »

bizkitgto wrote: post #169
canadapups wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I built CanadaPups.com. At first I started to learn by reading Computer Science 101 textbooks. The intro MIT textbook is in python and has more depth than other CS101 books. (Guttag, John. Introduction to Computation and Programming Using Python.) I then went practical, I learnt Ruby on Rails via https://www.railstutorial.org/ . It was good to provide me with mental framework of how websites are built... html, coding…

That's awesome!! How long did it take you to go from zero to launching your website? Did you do this on your free time (were your working full time)?

I worked on it in my free time. I have an non-tech day job. From zero (start reading CS101 book) to launch was 1 year. Could have been less if I didn't abandon my Rails version and re-do in Django.

Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#172

Post by bizkitgto »

canadapups wrote: post #171
bizkitgto wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's awesome!! How long did it take you to go from zero to launching your website? Did you do this on your free time (were your working full time)?

I worked on it in my free time. I have an non-tech day job. From zero (start reading CS101 book) to launch was 1 year. Could have been less if I didn't abandon my Rails version and re-do in Django.

Nice! Are you still working in your non-tech day job, or have you switched careers? I’m thinking of learning Rails as my first foray into programming.

Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#173

Post by LrnByTeach »

adventured wrote: post #12
ttul wrote: post #4

I have been an entrepreneur for 17 years and am now “middle aged”. In my early years, I made many, many mistakes that could probably be pegged to youthful hubris. I also had no idea how to run a real business because I had scant experience even working for one let alone crafting anything approaching a “go to market plan”. If I were to start a new company today, I would probably lack the carefree creativity of a 23-ye…

I'm in my late 30s now, after two decades as an entrepreneur. My brain was quicker at 21, memory was slightly stronger (slightly faster, easier recall), and I had greater endurance at working productively in very long stretches. And despite that, due to learning how to work more effectively, how to be far more productive with my use of time, understanding what mistakes to avoid, I'm a dramatically better entrepreneur…

This captures the essence of mid 20s vs. 40 year old entrepreneur.

> My brain was quicker at 21, memory was slightly stronger (slightly faster, easier recall), and I had greater endurance at working productively in very long stretches.

> I'm a dramatically better entrepreneur across the board. My patience has improved quite a bit, and my understanding of how to build for simplicity, reducing things down to only what they need to be, is leaps beyond what it was in my 20s.

> The single most important improvement I've seen, is building up a belligerent ruthlessness when it comes to complexity and general bloat. My 21 year old self just loved to build unnecessary, complex shit.

Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#174

Post by dlivingston »

kumarvvr wrote: post #98
sgustard wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's easier for VCs to take advantage of inexperience and ambition. Most suicide bombers are young too.

I recently heard a podcast on How I built it, by Guy Ras, about Cisco. Your statement rings so true. VC, in this case Sequoia capital, tried to drive an emotional wedge between the two original founders of Cisco and exploited them. Its a fascinating podcast about the culture of VC money. Im sure there are far worse stories now.

Nothing new to add, just wanted to say How I Built This is a fantastic podcast. :)

Re: Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45

#175

Post by canadapups »

bizkitgto wrote: post #172
canadapups wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I worked on it in my free time. I have an non-tech day job. From zero (start reading CS101 book) to launch was 1 year. Could have been less if I didn't abandon my Rails version and re-do in Django.

Nice! Are you still working in your non-tech day job, or have you switched careers? I’m thinking of learning Rails as my first foray into programming.

I'm still in my non-tech day job. Not planning on switching. Just a side project for fun (and profit). I think the Rails Tutorial is a good way to learn basics even if you end up using javascript (react or whatever later on). Ruby is my favorite language, but Django (in Python) suits me well.
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