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8 [Startup] Things I’m Better At Now That I’m 30

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Re: 8 [Startup] Things I’m Better At Now That I’m 30

#12

Post by icco »

It's interesting, I know a few early twenties startup founders (plus just a lot of college aged people) and very few have the arrogance that you claim to have had. In fact most follow the majority of your advice without having read your post, although that doesn't make it any less valid.

But what I'm really trying to ask, is I'm wondering if in ten years the maturity of the average young founder has changed. Are the people who start tech startups at 21 a different type of people than those who started them in the previous bubble? What changed? Where did the arrogance go? Or am I just hanging out with the wrong crowd?

Re: 8 [Startup] Things I’m Better At Now That I’m 30

#15

Post by thinkdifferent »

kingsidharth wrote: post #13
thinkdifferent wrote: post #11

Seeing articles like this one makes me feel shameful about my country. In Italy until 25 you're just a university student.

That shouldn't stop you from being an entrepreneur

You're right, on should not make up excuses.

But speaking about the future of a country, giving the young the opportunity they are given in silicon valley is surely a good thing.

Re: 8 [Startup] Things I’m Better At Now That I’m 30

#16

Post by roel_v »

skmurphy wrote: post #7
bemmu wrote: post #6

But what is the secret algorithm to small talk?

Three quick thoughts: 1. Relax. It's not a test or a contest, it's more like solving a puzzle together: what can we discover that we have in common. 2. Have a sense of warm curiosity about the other person. 3. Share details from your recent experiences and your reaction to them.

OK but this is not an algorithm - I was a bit excited, thinking he had a 1-2-3 formula to come up with a topic that always works in any context.

Re: 8 [Startup] Things I’m Better At Now That I’m 30

#17

Post by kingsidharth »

thinkdifferent wrote: post #15
kingsidharth wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That shouldn't stop you from being an entrepreneur

You're right, on should not make up excuses. But speaking about the future of a country, giving the young the opportunity they are given in silicon valley is surely a good thing.

No ways man, entrepreneurs don't look for opportunities to be mouth fed. They create them. It's more fun to create outside silicon valley and then take there and grow further. (IMO)

Re: 8 [Startup] Things I’m Better At Now That I’m 30

#19

Post by edw519 »

Things I am worse at at 55 vs. 25: the 50 yard dash.

Things I am better at at 55 vs. 25: everything else.

Seriously.

Magic Johnson (great American basketball player) once described the difference of being a world class athlete at 30 vs. 20: you have to be a whole lot smarter about how you use your body and recover when competing with younger people.

We programmers OTOH get the best of both worlds: the ability to work smarter against a physical and mental landscape that doesn't degrade nearly as fast as a world class athlete.

Frankly, when it comes to work, I can't think of a single thing I "used to do better", not creativity, not work habits, not personal habits, not physical or mental toughness.

I believe that programming, like running, is one of those things where the performance curve can remain flat until retirement, providing you take care of yourself. I'll let you know if it does.

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