Terms every aspiring entrepreneur should know • Hacker News Board

Re: Terms every aspiring entrepreneur should know

#11

Post by ownagefool » Mon, Sep 01, 2014, 3:32 PM UTC

Swizec wrote: post #10

bshimmin wrote: post #7

"We've now reached a point where its [sic] so easy to learn how to code that people of all ages are doing it." Oh, please.

Coding is the easy part. Engineering is the hard part. After all, even though 90%+ of the population can read and write, few are writers.

Depends what you categorise as writing. Sure, few of us are successful authors or journalists, but many solicitors, doctors and business people are probably largely authors of works in their own right. It just generally doesn't pay to be a writer for writings sake.

On the other hand very few people outwith programmers would benefit from that level of programming ability, nevermind that many would argue very few programmers should actually categorize themselves as engineers.

Re: Terms every aspiring entrepreneur should know

#12

Post by haydenlee » Mon, Sep 01, 2014, 3:48 PM UTC

oldmanjay wrote: post #8

I made it to >but of course I'd just nod in agreement so I didn't look like a noob... admit it, we've all been there and had to stop. That's the worst possible thing you can do! The rest of the article could be full of amazing advice but I'll never know cause it's too hard to read while I'm shaking my head this violently. Ask questions!

That part isn't the advice. Are you encouraging people to not admit their mistakes?

Re: Terms every aspiring entrepreneur should know

#13

Post by mbesto » Mon, Sep 01, 2014, 3:54 PM UTC

haydenlee wrote: post #2

I want to build this list up over time so feel free to suggest terms and resources that I should add.

User versus customer. A customer pays you, a user uses your application. Customers can be users, but users aren't necessarily customers. Finally, many people (entrepreneurs and VCs alike) will confuse these two simply to make it sound like you have more people paying for your service than the general populous understands.

Re: Terms every aspiring entrepreneur should know

#14

Post by csbrooks » Mon, Sep 01, 2014, 3:56 PM UTC

aaron987 wrote: post #6

haydenlee wrote: post #2

I want to build this list up over time so feel free to suggest terms and resources that I should add.

I've got one. Entrepreneurs need to understand the difference between capital growth and cashflow.

Can you elaborate? Or post a good link?

I'm guessing the issue isn't "what is the difference" but "why does it matter, and when do they get confused with each other"?

Re: Terms every aspiring entrepreneur should know

#15

Post by charlie_vill » Mon, Sep 01, 2014, 4:11 PM UTC

"Pro tip: since these essays are kinda long, I use the app Pocket to download the essays and listen to them next time I'm catching the train/bus/hyperloop." <-- you sir, are going places.

Re: Terms every aspiring entrepreneur should know

#16

Post by jacquesm » Mon, Sep 01, 2014, 4:17 PM UTC

haydenlee wrote: post #12

oldmanjay wrote: post #8

I made it to >but of course I'd just nod in agreement so I didn't look like a noob... admit it, we've all been there and had to stop. That's the worst possible thing you can do! The rest of the article could be full of amazing advice but I'll never know cause it's too hard to read while I'm shaking my head this violently. Ask questions!

That part isn't the advice. Are you encouraging people to not admit their mistakes?

I think you missed an opportunity there. The advice should be 'don't do this, it's better to admit to being a noob and asking for explanation rather than to hold a conversation using words you don't know the meaning of lest you pass up an opportunity to learn something.'.

There is no such thing as a stupid question.

This reminds me of a conversation I overheard long ago in public transport where two kids were arguing (loudly) about what was the faster computer, Okidata or Brother.

Re: Terms every aspiring entrepreneur should know

#17

Post by simonswords82 » Mon, Sep 01, 2014, 4:33 PM UTC

charlie_vill wrote: post #15

"Pro tip: since these essays are kinda long, I use the app Pocket to download the essays and listen to them next time I'm catching the train/bus/ hyperloop. " <-- you sir, are going places.

So if I download to Pocket does Pocket also play them back like an audiobook type thing? I've looked at the Pocket website and it's about saving for reading later, doesn't say anything about listening? I'd love to be able to save stuff to listen to in the car for example...

Re: Terms every aspiring entrepreneur should know

#18

Post by haydenlee » Mon, Sep 01, 2014, 4:43 PM UTC

simonswords82 wrote: post #17

charlie_vill wrote: post #15

"Pro tip: since these essays are kinda long, I use the app Pocket to download the essays and listen to them next time I'm catching the train/bus/ hyperloop. " <-- you sir, are going places.

So if I download to Pocket does Pocket also play them back like an audiobook type thing? I've looked at the Pocket website and it's about saving for reading later, doesn't say anything about listening? I'd love to be able to save stuff to listen to in the car for example...

Hi Simon, the android app had the ability last time i checked. It uses android's text to speech api.

Re: Terms every aspiring entrepreneur should know

#19

Post by simonswords82 » Mon, Sep 01, 2014, 4:45 PM UTC

haydenlee wrote: post #18

simonswords82 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So if I download to Pocket does Pocket also play them back like an audiobook type thing? I've looked at the Pocket website and it's about saving for reading later, doesn't say anything about listening? I'd love to be able to save stuff to listen to in the car for example...

Hi Simon, the android app had the ability last time i checked. It uses android's text to speech api.

Awesome! I'll clear through my backlog of articles to catch up on in no time! Thanks :)

Re: Terms every aspiring entrepreneur should know

#20

Post by Swizec » Mon, Sep 01, 2014, 5:09 PM UTC

ownagefool wrote: post #11

Swizec wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Coding is the easy part. Engineering is the hard part. After all, even though 90%+ of the population can read and write, few are writers.

Depends what you categorise as writing. Sure, few of us are successful authors or journalists, but many solicitors, doctors and business people are probably largely authors of works in their own right. It just generally doesn't pay to be a writer for writings sake. On the other hand very few people outwith programmers would benefit from that level of programming ability, nevermind that many would argue very few progr…

Essentially we agree, most people should use coding as a tool for their job, few people should code as their job.