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Evernote CEO to entrepreneurs: "don't do it"

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Re: Evernote CEO to entrepreneurs: "don't do it"

#21

Post by carguy1983 »

jpdoctor wrote: post #14
larrys wrote: post #11

"A lot of people think that they want to be an entrepreneur because it’s a good way to make money. It just isn’t, that’s just wrong. Depending on how you count, 95% to 99% of companies fail." Excuse me. It is a way to make money. That figure assumes the definition of entrepreneur is only startups as discussed in places like HN, Techcrunch etc. Not only is the figure of 95% or 99% wrong with respect to "entrepreneurs"…

> Not only is the figure of 95% or 99% wrong with respect to "entrepreneurs" I believe he's quoting numbers from Shikhar Ghosh at HBS. Here's one article that google brought up with a little more detail about how "failure" is defined: The statistics are disheartening no matter how an entrepreneur defines failure. If failure means liquidating all assets, with investors losing most or all the money they put into the co…

"projected" return, "declaring" a projection then "falling short"...

These terms invalidate the given statistics, rendering them essentially meaningless. These figures are geared toward being consumed by finance professionals, not by people actually running small businesses or who found startups.

Re: Evernote CEO to entrepreneurs: "don't do it"

#22

Post by eli »

larrys wrote: post #11

"A lot of people think that they want to be an entrepreneur because it’s a good way to make money. It just isn’t, that’s just wrong. Depending on how you count, 95% to 99% of companies fail." Excuse me. It is a way to make money. That figure assumes the definition of entrepreneur is only startups as discussed in places like HN, Techcrunch etc. Not only is the figure of 95% or 99% wrong with respect to "entrepreneurs"…

The average expected income from working at a large corporate may well be higher than founding a startup. But there's at least the chance of making a lot of money in a startup. It's very unlikely that you'll stumble into a windfall working for a large corporation.

Re: Evernote CEO to entrepreneurs: "don't do it"

#23

Post by carguy1983 »

antidaily wrote: post #18

"you should just get a real job instead, like become a banker or an investor or a consultant or something" yeah, consulting. the pie-eating contest where the prize is more pie. but at least you have a nice salary to pay back your MBA student loans. and you get to travel every week and get fat eating out every meal and drinking at networking events.

A good way to start a career, not a very good way to live though.

Re: Evernote CEO to entrepreneurs: "don't do it"

#24

Post by carguy1983 »

Ooh, me, me, pick me. Let me guess! Do it because you want to change the world?

It's a laughable, tired cliche now, especially coming from a guy who made the equivalent of a digital hipster moleskine who isn't changing a god damn thing about this world. People are still broke, sick, and starving. But I can take awesome notes on my MacBook Air!

The better answer is "because it's interesting and fun and challenging and sometimes disappointing and a fantastic learning experience and you might get rich or go broke while experiencing the full, unfiltered range of human emotions and potential".

It also happens to be more truthful and conforms more to the modal outcome.

Re: Evernote CEO to entrepreneurs: "don't do it"

#26

Post by jmcannon »

carguy1983 wrote: post #24

Ooh, me, me, pick me. Let me guess! Do it because you want to change the world ? It's a laughable, tired cliche now, especially coming from a guy who made the equivalent of a digital hipster moleskine who isn't changing a god damn thing about this world. People are still broke, sick, and starving. But I can take awesome notes on my MacBook Air! The better answer is "because it's interesting and fun and challenging an…

"because it's interesting and fun and challenging and sometimes disappointing and a fantastic learning experience and you might get rich or go broke while experiencing the full, unfiltered range of human emotions and potential"

This is one of the best articulations of why I'm an entrepreneur that I've read. Thanks.

Re: Evernote CEO to entrepreneurs: "don't do it"

#27

Post by orblivion »

larrys wrote: post #15

"I think you know what it is: it’s to change the world" This is such hogwash and brainwashing. People have to earn money and make a living. Nothing wrong with that at all. And if you want to change the world you have a better chance after earning a load of money. There are people who have gone into medicine to make money (and not better the world and save lives) and are great physicians and provide a service. And the…

> "I think you know what it is: it’s to change the world"

This article is disguised as a buzzkill for people who have startup dreams, but turns out to be an even bigger opiate.

Re: Evernote CEO to entrepreneurs: "don't do it"

#28

Post by guelo »

carguy1983 wrote: post #24

Ooh, me, me, pick me. Let me guess! Do it because you want to change the world ? It's a laughable, tired cliche now, especially coming from a guy who made the equivalent of a digital hipster moleskine who isn't changing a god damn thing about this world. People are still broke, sick, and starving. But I can take awesome notes on my MacBook Air! The better answer is "because it's interesting and fun and challenging an…

Changing the world doesn't necessarily mean you're going to somehow rid the world of broke, sick, and starving people. But I agree, this guy is taking himself way too seriously. I guess he gave the world a new way of taking notes, but come on.

Re: Evernote CEO to entrepreneurs: "don't do it"

#30

Post by MicahWedemeyer »

I wonder how many of these speeches are motivated by salesmanship? Like, Do it because you've got a decent idea and you kinda think it might work and maybe you'll make a little bit of money just doesn't have the same ring to it as Go change the world, kid!

So, in order to get invited (or invited back) to speak in front of 100s of people and plug your product/company, you change your speech (and backstory) until it fits the mantra-du-jour. 3 years ago, the speech would be "Fail Fast". A year ago, it would be "Learn to Pivot". Today, it's "Change the World!"

As others have mentioned here, Evernote is not really an earth-shattering, universe-changing product. That's perfectly OK in my book, but own up to that fact. It's tiresome to hear people rewrite history and their own motivations just to sell themselves.

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