I'm a loser and I want to change that - now • Hacker News Board

Re: I'm a loser and I want to change that - now

#201

Post by paulovsk » Mon, Mar 18, 2013, 2:36 AM UTC

thetrumanshow wrote: post #141

qisine wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Damn, what can I say? Thanks man! Will take your advise to heart. My post probably came across as a bit too much whinging. Will make sure that I deliver stuff from now on, rather than empty talk.

And do not underestimate how important this piece is: "...and keep us posted." As edw said, it sounds like you may need people to hold you accountable on your journey (and one of the key ingredients you may lack) ... use us in this capacity. By the way, that's me to a T as well. I need people around that keep me focused on moving forward. Now go, and to great things worthy of honor.

>Now go, and to great things worthy of honor.

Ok, even I felt motivated after reading this. Thanks!

Re: I'm a loser and I want to change that - now

#202

Post by jborden13 » Mon, Mar 18, 2013, 2:38 AM UTC

ScottBurson wrote: post #74

edw519 wrote: post #54

I have been a dreamer all my life. It took me until last year to figure this out, and only thanks to this community. Great. Dreaming is necessary but not sufficient for great accomplishments. Glad you're one of us. I hardly ever tried - and when I tried, I didn't persist. It has been my goal to start a business since ever I can remember. And yet I never really tried (until last year, which resulted in abysmal failure…

Dreaming is necessary but not sufficient for great accomplishments. This reminds me of a great line I ran into somewhere: "If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." EDITED to add: ah, through the magic of the Web I discover that this quote is from Thoreau. I've corrected my misquotation.

One of my prof's during B-school but it slightly less elegantly but it always stuck with me:

Ideas are a dime a dozen. Execution is the only thing that matters.

Re: I'm a loser and I want to change that - now

#203

Post by DoggettCK » Mon, Mar 18, 2013, 2:50 AM UTC

recuter wrote: post #12

> I don't have too much time left. My 20ies are gone. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckminster_Fuller#Bankruptcy_a... "By age 32, Fuller was bankrupt and jobless, living in low-income public housing in Chicago, Illinois. In 1922, Fuller's young daughter Alexandra died from complications from polio and spinal meningitis. Allegedly, he felt responsible and this caused him to drink frequently and to contemplate suicide…

> Your life is hardly over, it hasn't even begun. Justin Bieber is 19 and has quite a few #1 albums already, should every 20-something singer feel bad about themselves as a result? You need a new yardstick to measure yourself by.

Some of the best advice I ever got was "Never measure yourself by someone else's ruler."

Especially not Beiber's.

If you're not dead yet, you have all the time left.

Re: I'm a loser and I want to change that - now

#204

Post by aln » Mon, Mar 18, 2013, 2:57 AM UTC

Good luck with your endeavors!

I thought I would share something kind of relevant: http://paulgraham.com/reminder.html

Re: I'm a loser and I want to change that - now

#205

Post by lebek » Mon, Mar 18, 2013, 2:58 AM UTC

jborden13 wrote: post #202

ScottBurson wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dreaming is necessary but not sufficient for great accomplishments. This reminds me of a great line I ran into somewhere: "If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." EDITED to add: ah, through the magic of the Web I discover that this quote is from Thoreau. I've corrected my misquotation.

One of my prof's during B-school but it slightly less elegantly but it always stuck with me: Ideas are a dime a dozen. Execution is the only thing that matters.

I think the Thoreau quote is closer to an antidote than an analog of your quote.

Re: I'm a loser and I want to change that - now

#206

Post by RachelCHRIS » Mon, Mar 18, 2013, 3:20 AM UTC

Don't think about the past, concentrate on the future, and live in the moment. You can't change the past, but you could change the way you feel and act right now, this minute, hour, day, make your time useful and positive now, it will build.

Re: I'm a loser and I want to change that - now

#207

Post by swayvil » Mon, Mar 18, 2013, 3:55 AM UTC

I think that I relate. I also think that no amount of thinking is going to change anything. Brainspace is devoid of solutions.

Possible solutions :

DRUGS. Speed gives you power and focus, the cornerstone of any successful endeavor. I'm talking cocaine, adderal, etc. Psychedelics can crack your head open and show you new stuff.

WORKING OUT. Raises your life energy level, upon which everything depends. Gets you high. Great antidepressant.

MEDITATION. Like working out except for a different part of you. You can really blow up your life in a good way. New powers and freedoms.

Re: I'm a loser and I want to change that - now

#208

Post by jdefr89 » Mon, Mar 18, 2013, 4:25 AM UTC

edw519 wrote: post #54

I have been a dreamer all my life. It took me until last year to figure this out, and only thanks to this community. Great. Dreaming is necessary but not sufficient for great accomplishments. Glad you're one of us. I hardly ever tried - and when I tried, I didn't persist. It has been my goal to start a business since ever I can remember. And yet I never really tried (until last year, which resulted in abysmal failure…

I will agree with everything except for two points.

The "stop reading code" snippet.. I think its important he continues to read code and mess around, it is what keeps passion alive and influences you. He should start building things on top of what he already doing

Another point, about "the best software is written by one person" is completely false. Any significant software project usually requires a team with good chemistry. You kind of alluded to the whole "genius programmer" myth.

I am not saying people can't write great software or build great products alone. Just that its not good to think of programming as an activity done in isolation. If not just for the fact you can get more ideas and feedback working with a team.

A lot of other stuff you said is sound advice. :-)

Re: I'm a loser and I want to change that - now

#209

Post by xkiwi » Mon, Mar 18, 2013, 4:36 AM UTC

Be agile, I thank myself for being that way;

Join a Startup if you cannot create one.

Re: I'm a loser and I want to change that - now

#210

Post by simplon » Mon, Mar 18, 2013, 5:01 AM UTC

nashequilibrium wrote: post #161

edw519 wrote: post #54

I have been a dreamer all my life. It took me until last year to figure this out, and only thanks to this community. Great. Dreaming is necessary but not sufficient for great accomplishments. Glad you're one of us. I hardly ever tried - and when I tried, I didn't persist. It has been my goal to start a business since ever I can remember. And yet I never really tried (until last year, which resulted in abysmal failure…

In 2007 i read a blog post similar to this.... here is an excerpt: " It was in February this year that I decided to try and make triathlon my career. It was a leap into the unknown: I knew nothing about what it meant to be a professional athlete. Now, two months down the line, I am still climbing that steep learning curve. And believe me, it’s a long slow climb. But what made me take the plunge, give up my job and th…

wow thanks for the link.. i watched the highlights of the Ironman 2010 where she won despite recovering from a recent horrid bike crash.. amazing..