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ASK HN: I'm lost -- need direction

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Re: ASK HN: I'm lost -- need direction

#41

Post by kgopal »

I don't think it's late to do anything. Richard Bransons mom went around the world and learnt to scuba dive at the age of 85. If she can, then so can you (live your dreams that is).

My harder problem is finding out what your direction is. You obviously have a rich experience so far, what is that interests you? And like Hugh Macleod says, don't ditch the day job, start something on the side see how it rolls and then decide what you want to do with it.

The worst thing you can do is become an entrepreneur because everyone around you is becoming one or because you think that's a way to a quick buck.

Re: ASK HN: I'm lost -- need direction

#42

Post by thaumaturgy »

kgopal wrote: post #40
thaumaturgy wrote: post #24

Why do you want to an "entrepreneur"? What does that mean to you? I don't see a passion for any particular project or idea in your question. I would expect that someone that really wanted to be an entrepreneur, right from their college days, would have moved in that direction somehow -- either by saving funds away so they could do it without disrupting their family, or by working on something on the side in their spa…

That's an interesting view. I'm not scared of doing the hardwork no money entrepreneur thing for a while. Can you give me tips on how to go about finding direction?

No, but I can tell you the only thing that works for me: I have to have a problem that I really, really want to solve. It's not necessarily a problem that I have, it could be -- and often is -- a problem that other people have. The more people have it, the more I want to solve it.

If I've got something like that to focus on, then I'm less likely to lose interest halfway into it.

Re: ASK HN: I'm lost -- need direction

#43

Post by rjurney »

iamelgringo wrote: post #32

I'm a nurse with over 15 years of Critical Care experience. I Read Hackers and Painters in 2003, and I went back to school part time for Software Engineering. I finished up last spring, and I started working on being a serial bootstrapper. As soon as I can adjust spending, I'll cut down to part time, or jump ship and do startups full time. I'm 36. I'm married no kids. I have talked long and hard with my wife about th…

What a great story :)

Re: ASK HN: I'm lost -- need direction

#44

Post by Scott_MacGregor »

You asked "Is it too late to get into startup mode?", I don't think so. I think that you might want to discuss this with your wife and get her input into this decision too. Marital acrimony along with the stresses of a startup might take its toll on both of these things, and that would be regrettable.

In any case, as far as getting into "startup mode" it might help if you had an offering that you really believed in. Something to wow the world with. An idea for a product or service that is compelling to you and to others (a lot of others). Something your wife would believe in too.

Re: ASK HN: I'm lost -- need direction

#45

Post by sireat »

skmurphy wrote: post #13

Save your money, adjust your lifestyle to allow you to live on a lower spending rate. Make sure your wife is supportive of starting something. Take your time and find at least one partner. If you don't know them well do some smaller projects together first. Older entrepreneurs bring social capital, commitment, and an ability to focus and persist (See http://www.skmurphy.com/blog/2009/10/02/three-advantages-of-... )

You can be a great half(or third) of a startup team, but you would need at least a marketing guy/girl(and possibly a business process/accounting person). Finding one you can work with might be the hardest part.
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