Is envy a good thing?

#1

Post by marrone » Sun, Sep 02, 2007, 12:06 AM UTC

A lot of Web 2.0 news circulates around who is getting bought by whom for how much. A lot of people see this and envision the same success for themselves. A lot of these same people are creating startups.

My question is this: is envy a good thing? I mean we are talking about the American Dream after all, the web is the new land of opportunity for many people, and a lot of us look to it as our chance to become rich and successful. But is this envy good or bad? Do we focus too much on getting acquired, rather than starting something you love and possibly being able to make a living off of it? The YC application even asks who you think would be the most likely to acquire you.

PG has said many times, that during his Viaweb days all he wanted to do was make something good. What are your thoughts?

P.S. This blew me away a few months back. In my Mens Health magazine, the results to a survey on the average guy's fantasy profession: 1. Professional athlete, 2. Movie Star, 3. Internet start-up millionaire, 4. Rock and Roll star, 5. Playboy photographer ... in that order! Yes internet start-up made it ahead of taking pictures of hot naked women all day, and being a rock and roll singer! Oh how the times have changed...

Re: Is envy a good thing?

#2

Post by palish » Sun, Sep 02, 2007, 1:14 AM UTC

6. To make cool things that people enjoy while not caring about money past a house.

The only reason I'm pursuing financial security is to be free of the 9-5 so that I can focus on creating interesting things.

Re: Is envy a good thing?

#3

Post by jsnx » Sun, Sep 02, 2007, 1:38 AM UTC

> My question is this: is envy a good thing?

Well, envy causes suffering, and suffering is bad; so no, envy is not good. You can not want something so badly that you get it. It's true that chance favors the prepared mind, but not always.

What can you do to be happy now? It's not that hard. There is honor and pleasure in cutting an onion well.

Re: Is envy a good thing?

#4

Post by aswanson » Sun, Sep 02, 2007, 1:40 AM UTC

palish wrote: post #2

6. To make cool things that people enjoy while not caring about money past a house. The only reason I'm pursuing financial security is to be free of the 9-5 so that I can focus on creating interesting things.

I can dig it.

Re: Is envy a good thing?

#5

Post by samson » Sun, Sep 02, 2007, 1:52 AM UTC

I don't think it matters what your initial spark is to get you started. Whether its envy or inspiration, as long as your doing it and enjoying it.

If months after getting your project up, and the first thing you can say to someone who asks you why your doing it? And you respond like "for Google to buy me", then maybe your envy has become a bad thing, or at least its made you kinda shallow.

Otherwise there's nothing wrong with reading that youtube buyout article and then choosing the next day to spend the day thinking of an idea you'd be happy with pursuing over the next couple of months.

Re: Is envy a good thing?

#6

Post by Neoryder » Sun, Sep 02, 2007, 2:26 AM UTC

I think as with most things it depends. Envy is closely related to pride , and if envy/pride drives us to create beautiful products to always push outside our comfort zones to make something beautiful/useful then I am all for it., But if with, I daresay most people ,envy drives them to do things beyond what decent people do.

IN short figure out how envy affects you. Honestly assess yourself and act accordingly.

Re: Is envy a good thing?

#7

Post by steve » Sun, Sep 02, 2007, 2:30 AM UTC

With every line of code I write, I stay focused on the day that I will achieve greatness and crush all others. At this rate I'm set to completely burn out in my mid 20's but I can take that risk.

Re: Is envy a good thing?

#8

Post by DanielBMarkham » Sun, Sep 02, 2007, 2:48 AM UTC

Two issues:

1) What motivates you? For some, it's desire. For others, it's fear. Envy is a form of desire. Doing anything with all your soul -- pouring yourself into something -- is your job in life as far as I'm concerned. Pick whatever works for you. Whatever keeps you moving.

2) It also depends on what you envy. I envy people that have made a positive difference in people's lives. Other things seem kind of stupid to me, like money and fame. You can inherit money, or trick somebody out of it, so while it's nice, it's more like the scoreboard on a basketball game. You don't play basketball by looking at the scoreboard. Fame is too much a crap shoot. Plus I'd rather have freedom to invent and innovate than having the world watching my every move.

Re: Is envy a good thing?

#9

Post by eusman » Sun, Sep 02, 2007, 3:11 AM UTC

there are sooo many issues and feelings to handle during a startup to have time for a such destructful emotion like envyness

Re: Is envy a good thing?

#10

Post by rrival » Sun, Sep 02, 2007, 3:30 AM UTC

This is business. Envy is a distraction. Being able to see the paths someone else took to get somewhere shouldn't serve as the primary inspiration or impetus to pursue your ideas. Those paths are more than likely not opportunities for your success.

If "some 24 year old kid from illinois just sold his Ymmv. Do it, fail, learn, repeat as necessary. Try not to let anecdotal successes inspire visions of grandeur.