You sound burned out, not desperate.
I personally would take a breather and get a full-time job doing something I enjoy and revisit entrepreneurship in a 18-24 months.
I'm only a few years younger than you.
Ask HN: and now what?
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Re: Ask HN: and now what?
#5238 is still very young. I am 43 and still working on my start-up. You might want to check out this book:
Noble Obsession: Charles Goodyear, Thomas Hancock, and the Race to Unlock the Greatest Industrial Secret of the 19th Century
http://www.amazon.com/Goodyear-Story-Inventors-Obsession-Str...
If you compare your situation to Mr. Goodyear, you will find out that you have much more than what he had. I hope this can help you recover from your depression. Just don't give up on your dream.
Re: Ask HN: and now what?
#53"Money wears out those who just did not have it"
Re: Ask HN: and now what?
#54If you're going through hell, keep going.
-Winston Churchill
Re: Ask HN: and now what?
#55I'm desperate. You may think you're desperate, but you're not. Keep reading... I'm almost 38. Start programming at 10. Spent 7 years in video game industry as programmer, project manager, CTO. None of that matters. Today is Day 0. I tried during 5 years to create a "startup". You don't "create a startup". You supply solutions to other people's problems. When you do that properly, a "startup" is often the byproduct. F…
This should be pinned up on the wall, great summary. Once this person gets focussed on solving problems for customers I think they will be very successful.
... solving problems for customers ...
Or just a solve a problem for a single customer.
For example, I started a business that solves a problem for a single customer (for a niche industry). After my customer signed up, my website now only displays a "log in" form (and not a "sign up" form).
Why? Because I'm more focused on providing a great experience more than worrying about scaling up or other problems I don't currently have...
Re: Ask HN: and now what?
#56Book a flight to some place you've never been before.
Re: Ask HN: and now what?
#57I'm desperate. You may think you're desperate, but you're not. Keep reading... I'm almost 38. Start programming at 10. Spent 7 years in video game industry as programmer, project manager, CTO. None of that matters. Today is Day 0. I tried during 5 years to create a "startup". You don't "create a startup". You supply solutions to other people's problems. When you do that properly, a "startup" is often the byproduct. F…
I'd also add:
> Each time, I have ... negative feedback
Great, you have the ability to focus and prioritise which is something people with positive feedback lack.
Though I guess the question I am most interested in hearing an answer to is: Why are you doing what you're doing?
If the answer is to do a startup, it's the wrong answer. If it's to solve problems and fill a need, then it may be the right answer if other people share that problem too and your solution works for them.
Answering "Why?" supplied the epiphany I needed to start building what people want.
Re: Ask HN: and now what?
#58I am on the same situation and mental state. It's good to know that we are not alone. I even get bored reading all the comments here. Anyway, good luck.
Re: Ask HN: and now what?
#59I'm desperate. You may think you're desperate, but you're not. Keep reading... I'm almost 38. Start programming at 10. Spent 7 years in video game industry as programmer, project manager, CTO. None of that matters. Today is Day 0. I tried during 5 years to create a "startup". You don't "create a startup". You supply solutions to other people's problems. When you do that properly, a "startup" is often the byproduct. F…
It should also be noted that startups aren't for everyone. After reading PG's essays in ~2005, I realized there was too much stress and anguish in that path for my personal tastes. It turns out the idea of creating value is also a useful abstraction as an employee, and I've never regretted not going the startup route.
I agree, but looking at the way he has been trying hard to build something (doesn't matter whether he was building it for himself or someone else), I think he is pretty much a startup guy. Success is something unrelated altogether.
Re: Ask HN: and now what?
#60And first of all, change that stupid username, 'shameonme'. No, you might think it doesn't, but it really, really affects you in a negative way.