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Most startup theory is ex-post, therefore bs

shafyy.com

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Re: Most startup theory is ex-post, therefore bs

#91

Post by shafyy »

CrazyStat wrote: post #81
neilv wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> directly refuting the claim made in the title of the blog post. That is: Most [...] In the title, the author is seemingly making the claim that all [...]

Very clever, but missing the point. Those two qualifiers refer to different classes: (1) Most startup theory is ex-post, therefore bs. (2) All ex-post startup theory is bullshit. Those claims may or may not be true, but there's no contradiction between the two. The title does indeed seem to implicitly claim (2), in the form of the following (implied) syllogism: Most startup theory is ex-post. All ex-post startup theo…

Well, since I'm here no need for the guesswork. I'm not saying all ex-post theories all bullshit. I think that most ex-post startup thoeries are bullshit.

Re: Most startup theory is ex-post, therefore bs

#94

Post by TrackerFF »

Startup (and business) theory is really pretty simple:

1) Identify problem

2) Come up with, or look up for existing solutions

3) Develop, iterate

4) Identify and get some competitive edge

5) Keep pleasing clients

Of course, there's a ton of things underneath all this, like marketing, funding, or simply being lucky with timing.

The copy-cat method is probably the most legit, and battle-tested method. I.e, simply just copy some existing product or solution, with a known market.

The entrepreneurship scene preaches originality and novel idea to hopeful founders, but to me, it always ends up with a race for who can do something better than their competitor.

I've noticed that in many countries outside US, especially western Europe, some of the largest startups are those that play-by-play copy successful US startups, probably hoping to get acquired once the US startups start expanding to said countries.

Re: Most startup theory is ex-post, therefore bs

#95

Post by rvn1045 »

The thing is though that you've probably read so much startup advice that your sick of it and know a lot of it and dont find any value in it anymore. you've reached a tipping point where you done reading about this shit and just want to build stuff. but if you dont know anything about startups or business or whatever its still probably useful to read about it.

Re: Most startup theory is ex-post, therefore bs

#96

Post by varjag »

ehnto wrote: post #85
bovermyer wrote: post #33

When I was in my twenties, I was part of the early "life coach blogger" culture. Now that I'm almost in my forties, I realize everything I wrote back then was bullshit. Earnest, but bullshit nonetheless. I'm much more cynical, but I'm also much more likely to just do what seems right and figure out the rest as I go. I don't read "best practices" or advice articles anymore. This is not to say that there is nothing to…

I started to see the same trend in technology hopping. New language's or frameworks are barely around long enough to develop long term maintainability best practices borne from experience, so everyone's blog posts are just well intentioned speculation. You end up seeing enough contradicting information said absolutely that you realise no one is ever 100% right.

This extends to methodologies.

At this point am convinced that a competent team will complete the same project under formally waterfall, XP or Agile governance with only minor schedule differences.

Re: Most startup theory is ex-post, therefore bs

#98

Post by novok »

ionforce wrote: post #86
kd5bjo wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve read a lot of time management/productivity books, and there seem to be only two things all of the authors agree on: write stuff down, and continuously tweak your system. The latter is usually mentioned offhand in the preface, as the author wants to deliver a fait accompli instead of just some tips and tricks.

Can you elaborate on "write stuff down"?

Plan, write a log of work, write down your todos, keep track of what your doing and keep yourself accountable.

Re: Most startup theory is ex-post, therefore bs

#99

Post by downandout »

vikramkr wrote: post #68
shafyy wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm saying that they would have been successful with or without this marketing tactics. I am not saying that startups shoulnd't use free marketing opportunities.

Exactly, which means you're saying that this wasn't a vital part of their success, while the other commenter is saying the opposite, so I don't think you agree with the argument that doing things that don't scale is a critical part of their success right? Unless I'm misreading something.

Yeah this was my point. IMO they would have never made it to the point of becoming a viral success without their prolific Craigslist spamming operation. Every virus needs a patient 0.

Re: Most startup theory is ex-post, therefore bs

#100

Post by ralmeida »

shafyy wrote: post #69
smallgovt wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not. He's directly refuting the claim made in the title of the blog post. That is: Most startup theory is ex-post, therefore bs. In the title, the author is seemingly making the claim that all ex-post startup advice is BS. The commenter is debunking that claim by providing sound ex-post advice.

Ok come on guys. Obviously, tax law advice that is ex-post is not bs. Law advice is ex-post per definition, because the law needs to be written first. That's not what the post is about.

I think you did a fine post but a wrong generalization. The advice you mentioned is bad because it's not generalizable and possibly not reproducible, but IMO claiming that the advice being ex post is the cause of that was a stretch.
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