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Ask HN: How many entrepreneurs out there are really passionate?

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Re: Ask HN: How many entrepreneurs out there are really passionate?

#31

Post by JonathanFields »

To me, passion in the context of starting and building a business is about a deep commitment to serve the a source of pain or create a source of delight for a market that you feel a strong connection to.

If what's driving you is an attachment to a particular solution, then if the solution doesn't work, your commitment to the entire endeavor evaporates.

But, if your attachment is to a market, you stay motivated and have a much easier time pivoting as needed and surviving until you find the model and solution that work.

Re: Ask HN: How many entrepreneurs out there are really passionate?

#32

Post by staunch »

jwegan wrote: post #19
staunch wrote: post #11

Zuckerberg wasn't particularly passionate about Facebook in the early days. Now he seems to be on a possibly life-long mission. There's no substitute for discipline and hard work, not even passion (though it may make it less painful).

Just curious what led you to believe he wasn't passionate about Facebook? He was involved a couple other social networking type stuff like ConnectU and his HotOrNot clone. To me, it seems he was at least interested in exploring the domain space.

Based on what I read in The Facebook Effect mostly. I think he's even said as much.

Re: Ask HN: How many entrepreneurs out there are really passionate?

#33

Post by garply »

hasenj wrote: post #26
garply wrote: post #2

I'm passionate about making money. That said, once you identify a sector in which to make money, you need to master it. With mastery almost alway comes at least an appreciation or affection for a subject.

Really? That's strikes me in a weird way. To me, (at least subconsciously) passion means a drive to do something out of love, regardless of whether or not you can make money out of it. Being "passionate about making money" almost doesn't make any sense. Better said as "I'm very driven to make money".

Making money is a game, like baseball. If people can be passionate about the latter, why can't I be passionate about the former?

Re: Ask HN: How many entrepreneurs out there are really passionate?

#34

Post by spreiti »

I currently work on a startup together with my friend. We don't do this because we are passionate about starting a company or the problem we solve is exciting. We do it for the money. Why work for some company if you can make much more money selling you services directly? That's what got us started. Not passion.

Now I don't think it's wrong to be passionate but it's definitely a key factor whether your business is successful or not. It all comes down to hard work, execution and a little bit of luck.

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