The lifestyle business bullshit (2009) • Hacker News Board

Re: The lifestyle business bullshit (2009)

#31

Post by jakejake » Wed, May 30, 2012, 5:22 AM UTC

You would think that this article is obvious to the point of not really being necessary to even write. But, I think hanging out on tech forums like HN you read about billion dollar buyouts, massive IPOs and basically I think it gives the impression that is the only way you can consider yourself successful is if you are a part of one of those deals.

I kinda equate it to wishing you were a rock star. It's a lot of show, but in most cases it doesn't result in any particular happiness. And it doesn't even result in a lot of financial success except in those extreme cases - and only for the early employees. There is a perception of excitement but even the day-to-day working long hours is sometimes not that much fun either.

On the other hand there's a lot of businesses out there that don't get much attention. Unfortunately it's not all that exciting to read about on HN with a headline like "I make a decent salary at a no-name company and have a nice, comfortable life"

Re: The lifestyle business bullshit (2009)

#32

Post by Lucadg » Wed, May 30, 2012, 5:38 AM UTC

We're building an online business while traveling. We're 3 months in Mexico this time. Tomorrow we'll go for a month long trip by car around Mexico and we'll spend those long hours on the road talking about the next feature, enjoying the scenery or stopping for some tasty tacos somewhere. The million dollars may come one day but I don't take any chances: I spend my time capital wisely as you can't buy time. Once it's gone, it's gone. A

Re: The lifestyle business bullshit (2009)

#33

Post by drats » Wed, May 30, 2012, 5:46 AM UTC

This is pretty trite nothingness, even for 37signals. I am not sure why it's been upvoted either as it's not even recent either.

Re: The lifestyle business bullshit (2009)

#34

Post by AVTizzle » Wed, May 30, 2012, 6:39 AM UTC

AznHisoka wrote: post #3

I think it's mostly investors that make fun of lifestyle businesses. Other entrepreneurs, not so much.

Very true in my experience. And as recently as 4-5 months ago, I was listening.

Really not far from "brainwashing" as DHH called it. The 37Signals message is a very, very welcome and refreshing signal amongst the noise of investments, valuations, and exits.

Re: The lifestyle business bullshit (2009)

#35

Post by dasil003 » Wed, May 30, 2012, 8:25 AM UTC

harshreality wrote: post #15

InclinedPlane wrote: post #6

Some people don't realize the implications of hours worked on effective wages. If you work more for the same income you are giving yourself a pay cut, and worse a free time cut. If you work less then you are giving yourself a raise, and increasing your free time as well, a double whammy. Most people have trouble thinking like this though. They lose themselves in their work, filling up their time with trivial and meni…

There are still many menial jobs that cannot be automated (not cost effectively). Encouraging people with menial jobs to seek higher effective wages increases everyone's cost of living. Until robots can do all the menial work, and build themselves too, a lot of people are going to have shit jobs. I don't see any way around that. Philosophically, is it better to have more people each doing X hours/yr of menial work, r…

I wonder if we are actually evolved to enjoy menial labor with the occasional pay check.

Re: The lifestyle business bullshit (2009)

#36

Post by pbiggar » Wed, May 30, 2012, 9:21 AM UTC

Cushman wrote: post #19

> It’s been a long time since there was a direct correlation with the number of hours you work and the success you enjoy. It’s an antiquated notion from the days of manual labour that has no bearing on the world today. It has never been true. Success has always been primarily correlated with the circumstances of your birth. This is not an antiquated notion so much as a fabrication invented to trick the less fortunate…

I have no data on this, but my spidey-sense says you're both wrong. If I had to put money on it, I'd say:

- success is correlated with hours worked (though it's by far not the only variable)

- education is more strongly correlated with success than birth is

- education is strongly correlated with birth

What do you reckon?

Re: The lifestyle business bullshit (2009)

#37

Post by timjahn » Wed, May 30, 2012, 4:14 PM UTC

famousactress wrote: post #16

dm8 wrote: post #7

First of all, "lifestyle business" is a terrible name. I'd like to know who coined that term? To my main point - With risk of getting downvoted. Why not think bigger? Building business is hard. Be it local publishing house or web based product serving millions of customers all across the globe. It requires same amount of (to quote Churchill) "blood, toil, tears and sweat". Then why not to swing for fences? In smaller…

Seriously? There's loads of reasons why not, and while I agree that it requires similar amounts of blood/toil/tears/sweat I'd say there's a bunch of differences. [Background: 12+ years as an early employee in fence-swinging tech startups, also started and ran/run a modestly successful wedding photography business with my wife] Our wedding photography business is definitely a "lifestyle business" by the usual HN defin…

That's awesome.

And the best part is that you already realize how awesome your business is and why it makes more impact on the world than any of the hundreds of random social-photo-buying-contact-managing startups that come out of the Valley every 6 hours.

Re: The lifestyle business bullshit (2009)

#38

Post by timjahn » Wed, May 30, 2012, 4:16 PM UTC

jeffio wrote: post #21

I work from home and I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with my kids. I've built a successful startup and am launching another without compromising anything. It IS possible and our breed of entrepreneur is more common however underrepresented in the startup community.

That's awesome.

Keep speaking up. Your voice needs to be heard. :)