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Ask HN: Will I Ever Recover?

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Re: Ask HN: Will I Ever Recover?

#41
I have this line from @alexwestco's Twitter bio in a deck of daily inspiration that my planner software cycles through:

> Currently at $300k/yr with http://cyberleads.com. Previously failed with 19 products.

Failing doesn't mean you're a failure. It's just feedback from the world that something about what you were doing didn't work. Sometimes it's product, sometimes it's marketing, sometimes it's behaviors in your own life, sometimes it's circumstances beyond your control. Every time something fails, it's a chance to look at those and try to understand what happened.

And sometimes what you realize is that you just plain don't care about what you were doing, and that's okay. That's a chance to revisit what success means to you.

I know it may not mean much in the immediate aftermath of what feels like defeat, but you did something few people have done: you worked on a startup for 7 years. There are so many lessons you can take away from that -- whether that's how to make your next venture succeed where this one failed, how to "fail faster" next time, or that you hate the whole startup scene and want to do something else with your life.

Just remember, what happened isn't your life's final verdict -- it's just one piece of the puzzle. It could be the stepping stone to a great 7 years to come. Keep your stick on the ice.

Re: Ask HN: Will I Ever Recover?

#42

You are not your job. You never were. Every single person on this planet has intrinsic worth that has nothing to do with what they do or how they think. You are important regardless of where you have worked. I often find the most painful employers and experiences are the ones that I gain the most out of in terms of development and growth. Not fun to hear in the moment but afterwards it's a gift.

> Every single person on this planet has intrinsic worth that has nothing to do with what they do or how they think

What is it, then? It feels really contrived to say "you're worth something" but then not say what that thing is.

Re: Ask HN: Will I Ever Recover?

#44

You are not your job. You never were. Every single person on this planet has intrinsic worth that has nothing to do with what they do or how they think. You are important regardless of where you have worked. I often find the most painful employers and experiences are the ones that I gain the most out of in terms of development and growth. Not fun to hear in the moment but afterwards it's a gift.

> Every single person on this planet has intrinsic worth that has nothing to do with what they do or how they think What is it, then? It feels really contrived to say "you're worth something" but then not say what that thing is.

Not everything can be quantified

Re: Ask HN: Will I Ever Recover?

#48
post #47
post #9

37. Heh. That's the age where you just start being able to use the wisdom you've been acquiring.

But remaining resources are below 50%. (

My father died at 91. My mother is still alive at 94. Assuming no accidents or illnesses, no, remaining resources are not below 50%....

... unless you mean energy, or "ability to pull all-nighters". Then, yeah, remaining resources are probably below 50%. But now you (hopefully) have more wisdom on what to do with the remaining resources. You can use them more efficiently, so that you get more results with fewer resources used.

Re: Ask HN: Will I Ever Recover?

#49

Contrary to popular belief, the highest chance of success, and largest entrepreneurial successes, come from founders who are 47 years old when they start their companies. You are still 10 years away from the statistical "peak" to start your startup. Yes you will recover. This experience may be exactly what you need to become great. It's your choice to either hide from it and whither away in regret or face it head on…

47? This is my year. And in a recession. Best time to start, right?

Re: Ask HN: Will I Ever Recover?

#50

Contrary to popular belief, the highest chance of success, and largest entrepreneurial successes, come from founders who are 47 years old when they start their companies. You are still 10 years away from the statistical "peak" to start your startup. Yes you will recover. This experience may be exactly what you need to become great. It's your choice to either hide from it and whither away in regret or face it head on…

47? This is my year. And in a recession. Best time to start, right?

If you have money in the bank yes
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