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A Project of One’s Own

paulgraham.com

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Re: A Project of One’s Own

#141

Post by opportune »

brhsagain wrote: post #131

Good essay overall, but this footnote in particular stood out to me: > [2] Tiger parents, as parents so often do, are fighting the last war. Grades mattered more in the old days when the route to success was to acquire credentials while ascending some predefined ladder. But it's just as well that their tactics are focused on grades. How awful it would be if they invaded the territory of projects, and thereby gave the…

Grades still matter for the vast majority of people who aren’t born into mega rich families. Most people don’t become Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and even those that do benefit greatly from the pedigrees that academic achievement opens up (going to top colleges, working at desirable employers, although grades matter little there unless you’re right out of college). For everyone else grades are still used for tracking into the traditionally high paid professions like law and medicine, and for tracking into the target colleges for high powered banking and consulting.

Re: A Project of One’s Own

#142

Post by omarhaneef »

gist wrote: post #138
omarhaneef wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same thought. PG gets held to a higher standard than anything else on here. If some random smart person put up the same article, everyone would congratulate them for at least the effort. I can't tell if PG's (cultivated) simple style makes people think the "idea" is simple. In any case, even if people don't like something, they don't usually go out of their way to tell the author, especially when it is something as p…

> If some random smart person put up the same article, everyone would congratulate them for at least the effort. Some 'random smart person' or 'some random notable smart person'? Perhaps what people react to is the implied wisdom and halo around PG. That creates the negativity. It's the 'he's achieved something therefore what is being said is notable'. If PG wanted he could post same thoughts under some assumed name…

I think there is something to what you say, but the "halo" isn't his problem. He should write as he pleases.

He doesn't have to be an expert in what he writes. I mean from his own perspective (I assume, never met him, don't know him) he is just a regular person writing a regular article about something he found interesting.

It is entirely the reader's problem if they put this extra pressure on his "implied wisdom and halo".

Re: A Project of One’s Own

#143

Post by dpogorniy »

brhsagain wrote: post #131

Good essay overall, but this footnote in particular stood out to me: > [2] Tiger parents, as parents so often do, are fighting the last war. Grades mattered more in the old days when the route to success was to acquire credentials while ascending some predefined ladder. But it's just as well that their tactics are focused on grades. How awful it would be if they invaded the territory of projects, and thereby gave the…

That's because parents are afraid that their child won't be competitive enough to have a decent life. If only parents were relaxed, if only they knew that their child can live full life without grinding through exercises. Then child just would pursue what they love, interested (unless it's unaffordable to their social strata). I wonder what we can do today to make this happen sooner.

On the side note. There is a great book which makes easier for parents to make piece with themselves: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35457692-the-self-driven...

Re: A Project of One’s Own

#144

Post by tomhoward »

ampdepolymerase wrote: post #28

> If I had to choose between my kids getting good grades and working on ambitious projects of their own, I'd pick the projects. And not because I'm an indulgent parent, but because I've been on the other end and I know which has more predictive value. When I was picking startups for Y Combinator, I didn't care about applicants' grades. But if they'd worked on projects of their own, I wanted to hear all about those. T…

Where does it say this?

I can't find any mention of anything like this on the application form or FAQs.

https://apply.ycombinator.com/app/edit

https://www.ycombinator.com/faq/

Re: A Project of One’s Own

#145

Post by [deleted] »

opportune wrote: post #141
brhsagain wrote: post #131

Good essay overall, but this footnote in particular stood out to me: > [2] Tiger parents, as parents so often do, are fighting the last war. Grades mattered more in the old days when the route to success was to acquire credentials while ascending some predefined ladder. But it's just as well that their tactics are focused on grades. How awful it would be if they invaded the territory of projects, and thereby gave the…

Grades still matter for the vast majority of people who aren’t born into mega rich families. Most people don’t become Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and even those that do benefit greatly from the pedigrees that academic achievement opens up (going to top colleges, working at desirable employers, although grades matter little there unless you’re right out of college). For everyone else grades are still used for trackin…

[deleted]

Re: A Project of One’s Own

#146

Post by bredren »

brhsagain wrote: post #131

Good essay overall, but this footnote in particular stood out to me: > [2] Tiger parents, as parents so often do, are fighting the last war. Grades mattered more in the old days when the route to success was to acquire credentials while ascending some predefined ladder. But it's just as well that their tactics are focused on grades. How awful it would be if they invaded the territory of projects, and thereby gave the…

I had mostly the opposite experience.

I learned to program in zero period at Wilson High School in Portland, Oregon.

It was a self-taught course but I didn’t have to hide the work—-no one really cared. Not that my parents didn’t care, they were glad I was doing something I enjoyed.

But that no one had any idea how deep I was going into writing code.

The assignments were given once a quarter or so by Veryl Smith. We had far ranging latitude to figure it out on our own and gold plate projects as much as we wanted.

By the time the game of life assignment was due I had added a mouse interface and vga, color display of the cells and grid, all in Pascal.

I often lost points due to things like shadowed naming or other bad patterns.

But that didn’t really matter too much. I made up for it getting “A” grades working as a teacher’s assistant for the attendance office, writing hall passes and absence slips for myself and others as necessary. That was a great hack.

Anyhow, this essay resonates deeply with me. It has good ideas in it.

Re: A Project of One’s Own

#147

Post by M2Ys4U »

mcguire wrote: post #95
crispyambulance wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel similarly. I think, however, that PG's idea of "a project" as much as he says it should be "for fun" -- is actually just a segway (wormhole) into a start-up! > One way to ensure autonomy is not to have a boss at all. There are two ways to do that: to be the boss yourself, and to work on projects outside of work. Though they're at opposite ends of the scale financially, startups and open source projects have a…

I guess VCs wouldn't be considered "bosses"?

VCs don't want you to feel like they're bosses.

Re: A Project of One’s Own

#148

Post by Izkata »

sangnoir wrote: post #98
crispyambulance wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel similarly. I think, however, that PG's idea of "a project" as much as he says it should be "for fun" -- is actually just a segway (wormhole) into a start-up! > One way to ensure autonomy is not to have a boss at all. There are two ways to do that: to be the boss yourself, and to work on projects outside of work. Though they're at opposite ends of the scale financially, startups and open source projects have a…

FYI: it's spelt segue . Segway is the brand-name of a self-balancing wheeled contraption that was supposed to revolutionize urban transportation 2 decades ago, but only saw success in the mall-cop niche.

We also have Segway tours in Chicago, where you get to ride one while seeing the sights.

Re: A Project of One’s Own

#149

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

jacksonkmarley wrote: post #132
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did write a big whiny rant, but deleted it. I don't think it adds to the conversation. Let's just say that I can't work in today's industry, and maintain my personal sense of Integrity. It's not them; it's me. My choice.

Actually I read it before you deleted it haha. Curious if you think some sort of independent contractor style would work in your situation? I'm not experienced in that type of workstyle, but it seems like companies with less long term investment in training, benefits etc would care less about age, as long as you deliver.

That was the company that dissed me. They want young, fresh-faced contractors.

I can hang my own shingle, but I don't have a network.

Re: A Project of One’s Own

#150

Post by paulz_ »

gregorymichael wrote: post #111
crispyambulance wrote: post #78

Read also a much better essay by a vastly more skilled writer with quite a different view, Bertrand Russell, "In Praise of Idleness." https://harpers.org/archive/1932/10/in-praise-of-idleness/ Russell would say that people of the age to be tech start-up fodder should instead DO NOTHING. It's better for them and for society. > I hope that after reading the following pages the leaders of the YMCA will start a campaign…

As a father of two kids who enjoyed this article, I clicked on the comments thinking, "I bet the top one is a criticism of PG." I don't understand how a predictable snide remark about PG's writing elevates this conversation. If the purpose of writing is to be read and to provoke thought and action, PG is a great writer.

Hey if the worst thing the HN comments have to say is "Well, he's no Bertrand Russell." I'd call that a pretty positive reception!
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