Value is created by doing
blog.samaltman.com
Value is created by doing
1–10 of 112 posts
Re: Value is created by doing
#2Couldn't agree with you more. And I think the effervescence of the Silicon Valley tech scene creates tons of events, roles and initiatives that are a complete waste of time (For example: some meetups, happy hours and incubators of incubators of incubators). The value is created by making and selling things!
Re: Value is created by doing
#3[deleted]
Re: Value is created by doing
#4I realize this is pointed out in the original post but it's important to state for those of us who only read comments and headlines. The longer I do this the more I believe that value isn't created by doing. It's created by selling.
As hackers and engineers the idea of "creating value by doing" resonates with us. We're happy to hole up in a dark room and create. It feels great. Wish I could do that for the rest of my life.
The reality is if you're selling something then that's the only validation you should be looking at to know if you're creating value.
I say this from the perspective of starting up where the point is more easily defined as creating direct economical value.
Re: Value is created by doing
#5I realize this is pointed out in the original post but it's important to state for those of us who only read comments and headlines. The longer I do this the more I believe that value isn't created by doing. It's created by selling. As hackers and engineers the idea of "creating value by doing" resonates with us. We're happy to hole up in a dark room and create. It feels great. Wish I could do that for the rest of my…
Selling is a subset of doing. That said, I like your point.
Re: Value is created by doing
#6Writing software no one wants does not create value—that’s called a class project.
My corollary to that is that if you write software that does create value, it doesn't matter what editor or language you use. So if you're super duper productive in Perl (or whatever) don't worry too much about chasing after whatever language HN is fetishizing at the moment. It will change in a few months anyway.
Re: Value is created by doing
#7This reminds me of when I see friends in the industry go mostly radio silent for weeks on Twitter or Facebook, only posting once or twice in a timespan they used to post 20 times or more. It usually means they're busy doing and that I need to get busy doing as well, not surfing and reading.
Re: Value is created by doing
#8>> you should try to work on what you really care about
So Good They Can't Ignore You[1] calls this the Passion Hypothesis[2], and argues (very well) that this is the wrong way to think about finding a career.
Instead, create a craftsman-like mentality and work ethic, and then use deliberate practice to get very, very good skills. With great skills, you will enjoy your work much more.
I believe this advice aligns with the rest of the blog entry very well. Creating value (and doing it well) requires an advanced skill set.
[1] http://www.amazon.com/Good-They-Cant-Ignore-You/dp/145550912...
[2] This is an arguable point, since caring about something could be different than being passionate about it.
Re: Value is created by doing
#9Trouble is not much publicity is given to the boring "doing" stuff that successful people go through. We are shown the successful people having Q&A sessions on Slashdot or being the keynote speaker at a conference. So you have to constantly remind yourself that, it is the result of the work they put before they "made it". So you need to put in your work. Thanks for this timely reminder
Re: Value is created by doing
#10I was hoping there would be 0 comments on this - that would have been people paying attention!