Take time to reflect, Figure out what gaps you need to fill and then launch another startup. Remember, you only have to get it right once!
Ask YC: Dealing with post startup depression
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Re: Ask YC: Dealing with post startup depression
#12Sorry to hear that things didn't work out.
The thoughts from others on taking some time off, getting into a different head-space are very good. Getting some exercise, seeing some shows, travel, eating some decent food, all good ideas if you have the cash for them.
If I spend too many days in front of the computer, I start to go stir crazy. I've had to force myself to stop and pick up some genre fiction and history books that I used to enjoy reading recently.
Re: Ask YC: Dealing with post startup depression
#13the best scorers in basketball have whats called shooters amnesia. They don't think about the shot they just missed. It isnt part of their reality. Focus on the next thing. don't tie your self esteem to your last shot
As Pmarca wrote: attempting to improve your batting average of hits versus misses is a waste of time as you progress through a creative career. Instead you should just focus on more at-bats -- more output.
Link here: http://blog.pmarca.com/2007/08/age-and-the-ent.html
The ratio of success to failure in tech startups ranges from 1:3 to 1:10 depending on who you read. That means pace yourself, you might have to do this a couple of times before you get a home run.
Re: Ask YC: Dealing with post startup depression
#14In all seriousness, take a break. It doesn't have to be for a long time, just enough to refresh your mental outlook. Travel a bit, even just to visit a friend in a fun city or somewhere to enjoy the outdoors. Get away from your computer. Be patient. Allow yourself to be human.
I went back to school, studied a year of Philosophy and Business Administration, relaxed unwound enjoyed the sedentary pace of the academia. Worked like a charm.
Re: Ask YC: Dealing with post startup depression
#15Stop thinking that any single project will bring you success. Your goal should be to go through this process as many times as is necessary, from beginning to end.
Even if your first project is a smashing success, the chances are high that you will want to go through the process of starting something new again (and with this process comes the possibility of risking failure -- don't forget this!). There should be no difference with the outcome with any project.
Embrace your failures as they will teach you better and more thoroughly than anybody on a message board!
Re: Ask YC: Dealing with post startup depression
#16Congrats--you got one under your belt. Take a break. Then analyze it, learn from it, and iterate. Figure out why it failed, and avoid that trap the next time. Deliberate Practice makes perfect: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/...
As he says, congrats! I agree, with many of the comments. Relax, take a deep breath. Think about what went wrong, whether it was a bad product, bad marketing, bad team or no funding and recognize what you learned.
Take that knowledge and try again. If they say that 1 out of ten startups make it past the first 3 years, then you are one more closer to the 1 out of 10. On the flip side if you never reach the one out of ten, it may be time to consider becoming a career politician :D
Chris http://blog.itrealm.net http://www.propertystampede.com
Re: Ask YC: Dealing with post startup depression
#17Congrats--you got one under your belt. Take a break. Then analyze it, learn from it, and iterate. Figure out why it failed, and avoid that trap the next time. Deliberate Practice makes perfect: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/...
It took me years of brooding in a corporate job to get over my first failed startup. But people aren't kidding when they say it's valuable experience; I've seen enough entrepreneurs who didn't fail soon enough or often enough. Their first big idea happened to stay alive long enough that they lost the fear and thought they were going to go all the way; they weren't sufficiently paranoid and able to think in contingencies. Then, failure came when they already had plenty of people depending on them; they became bitter and never recovered their spirit.
Guy Kawasaki gives experience in startup failure +3 points on his venture capital aptitude test: http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2006/11/the_venture_cap.html
But the economy being what it is, don't wait too long if you want a decent choice of corporate jobs.
Re: Ask YC: Dealing with post startup depression
#18Exercise. Seriously. Endorphines are really good for putting life in perspective.
Re: Ask YC: Dealing with post startup depression
#19the best scorers in basketball have whats called shooters amnesia. They don't think about the shot they just missed. It isnt part of their reality. Focus on the next thing. don't tie your self esteem to your last shot
As Pmarca wrote: attempting to improve your batting average of hits versus misses is a waste of time as you progress through a creative career. Instead you should just focus on more at-bats -- more output. Link here: http://blog.pmarca.com/2007/08/age-and-the-ent.html The ratio of success to failure in tech startups ranges from 1:3 to 1:10 depending on who you read. That means pace yourself, you might have to do this…
The best way I ever heard it phrased was, "Not everyone gets a home run, but sooner or later you're bound to get hit by a ball and walked."
Re: Ask YC: Dealing with post startup depression
#20Don't run away! I am in your shoes right now. Yes, I had to shut down too. But, it has been the greatest growth I have ever made. Why? because you have to " 'real'ize" that no matter where you go or who you talk to, the depression is in yourself, not out there. If I were you, I'd focus on what to do right now with your feelings, not the next big thing quite yet. You have to live with what depression means to find nor…
because you have to realize that no matter where you go or who you talk to, the depression is in yourself, not out there. If I were you, I'd focus on what to do right now with your feelings, not the next big thing quite yet.
Very well said.
This is worth reading: http://shadow.wordpress.com/2006/06/28/297/