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How would I get started?

hackertourism.com

1–10 of 151 posts

Re: How would I get started?

#4
I definitely agree with this article. We shouldn't be pessimistic about someone's grand vision. However, if you really wanted to start a cable company you probably wouldn't be asking hacker news on how to start a cable company. You would already have other resources that you can tap into and get started on it.

Re: How would I get started?

#5

Here's a rule of thumb: If a new business isn't impossible, it isn't worth discussion on a web site with the word "hack" in its name.

Or at the very least, if a new business isn't generally thought to be impossible .

My assumption: He forgot the quotation remarks around "impossible".

Re: How would I get started?

#6
> And yet Hacker News folk must be drawn at least somewhat by Paul Graham, who applauds frighteningly ambitious startup ideas.

It wasn't a frighteningly ambitious start-up. It was the same old idea, done hundreds of times across multiple countries, with a minor adjustment in its pricing structure.

Re: How would I get started?

#7

> And yet Hacker News folk must be drawn at least somewhat by Paul Graham, who applauds frighteningly ambitious startup ideas. It wasn't a frighteningly ambitious start-up. It was the same old idea, done hundreds of times across multiple countries, with a minor adjustment in its pricing structure.

I believe the author is referring to Y Combinator and the startups it funds, rather than Viaweb.

Though I'm sure you could argue many of those are rather unambitious ideas also.

Re: How would I get started?

#8

Here's a rule of thumb: If a new business isn't impossible, it isn't worth discussion on a web site with the word "hack" in its name.

Or at the very least, if a new business isn't generally thought to be impossible .

Very true! In my own case, I like to think "impossible," because I don't want to fall into the trap of thinking that I have the insight to know the difference between actually-impossible and impossible-for-mere-mortals-to-conceive.

So if something seems impossible to me, I try to consider the possibility that the problem is my lack of imagination.

Re: How would I get started?

#10
post #4

I definitely agree with this article. We shouldn't be pessimistic about someone's grand vision. However, if you really wanted to start a cable company you probably wouldn't be asking hacker news on how to start a cable company. You would already have other resources that you can tap into and get started on it.

Wow, what elegant hypocrisy.

I want to change healthcare. I have spent twelve years getting myself well when the entire world says it cannot be done. I have a website. I have a mental model for how to proceed forward. I don't have the programming skills I need. I am deeply in debt from the process of accomplishing "the impossible". The specifics of my personal situation are unconducive to applying to Y-Combinator. I have a really huge credibility problem.

I am generally equally dismissed, though my intent to do something potentially world changing is sincere and backed up by more than a decade of work. But, hey, feel free to join the legion of people who have already dismissed me for not currently having some successful business model in place while claiming you would like to see people like me get more support.

Oy.

Tldr: People seek feedback at different stages. Having nothing currently in hand (or seeming to) is not proof of lack of seriousness.

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