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Startups in 13 Sentences

paulgraham.com

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Re: Startups in 13 Sentences

#11

Post by rokhayakebe »

cperciva wrote: post #7

I have check marks next to 8 of these, and I'm working on a 9th (ironically, #9 -- "Get ramen profitable"); but I've broken 4 of these rules, and I don't regret it in the slightest. Rule #1 -- Pick good cofounders. I picked no cofounders, based largely on the fact that that I couldn't think of anyone who would be interested in joining me who wouldn't dramatically lower the average founder quality. (Ok, that's being a…

Although I agree with your comment, I must say that everyone (and I mean everyone), who is a startup entrepreneur, knows about HN, and reads all PGs essays knows that these are advices, opinions based on the experience from funding over 100 startups. Not rules, advices.

And although I applaud your efforts and accomplishments at Tarsnap, I must say that you base your argument on significantly less than 100 startups.

Re: Startups in 13 Sentences

#12

Post by wheels »

pg wrote: post #9
vaksel wrote: post #5

seems like we've heard all of this before

That wouldn't be surprising. This is kind of like an experimental result: if you optimally compress the advice for starting a startup down to around 10 sentences, what are they? It's the nature of compression that everything in the compressed version is in the original. Even so there were several things that seemed new to me. Let me check. I never quite realized till now that a version 1.0 was (or could be) nothing m…

The 1.0 being a pretext really rang true for us. It was interesting noting comparing how what we thought was important with what people were actually the critical things in making a purchase decision were, but nobody tells you those things seriously until they can look at your product and see what it's not.

Re: Startups in 13 Sentences

#13

Post by tokenadult »

My favorite: "So being cheap is (almost) interchangeable with iterating rapidly," followed up in footnote 4 with "They'd be interchangeable if markets stood still. Since they don't, working twice as fast is better than having twice as much time."

Re: Startups in 13 Sentences

#14

Post by alain94040 »

cperciva wrote: post #7

I have check marks next to 8 of these, and I'm working on a 9th (ironically, #9 -- "Get ramen profitable"); but I've broken 4 of these rules, and I don't regret it in the slightest. Rule #1 -- Pick good cofounders. I picked no cofounders, based largely on the fact that that I couldn't think of anyone who would be interested in joining me who wouldn't dramatically lower the average founder quality. (Ok, that's being a…

I agree with the last sentence of your comment. As for the rest, maybe you should add: rule #-1: be modest :-)

I am trying to write a post on my blog about what I call the "solo entrepreneur blues", which has to do with one of the biggest mistakes I have seen by entrepreneur friends: start alone and trust no one. I'll post a link once I have the tone right.

Re: Startups in 13 Sentences

#15

Post by alain94040 »

wheels wrote: post #12
pg wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That wouldn't be surprising. This is kind of like an experimental result: if you optimally compress the advice for starting a startup down to around 10 sentences, what are they? It's the nature of compression that everything in the compressed version is in the original. Even so there were several things that seemed new to me. Let me check. I never quite realized till now that a version 1.0 was (or could be) nothing m…

The 1.0 being a pretext really rang true for us. It was interesting noting comparing how what we thought was important with what people were actually the critical things in making a purchase decision were, but nobody tells you those things seriously until they can look at your product and see what it's not.

Paul is probably exaggerating a bit on that rule, to make his point across. You can have a version 1.0 that actually solves a real problem! But you know what he means...

Re: Startups in 13 Sentences

#17

Post by wheels »

alain94040 wrote: post #15
wheels wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The 1.0 being a pretext really rang true for us. It was interesting noting comparing how what we thought was important with what people were actually the critical things in making a purchase decision were, but nobody tells you those things seriously until they can look at your product and see what it's not.

Paul is probably exaggerating a bit on that rule, to make his point across. You can have a version 1.0 that actually solves a real problem! But you know what he means...

You can, but I'm tempted to say that if you're a first-time founder that it's probably luck. Having something out there was what changed our thinking from "this is the software we're making" to "this is the market we're addressing". It still took a while to really sink in and figure out what the implications of that were, and it's no doubt a process that we'll see continue once we push the next bits out.

Re: Startups in 13 Sentences

#18

Post by cperciva »

alain94040 wrote: post #14
cperciva wrote: post #7

I have check marks next to 8 of these, and I'm working on a 9th (ironically, #9 -- "Get ramen profitable"); but I've broken 4 of these rules, and I don't regret it in the slightest. Rule #1 -- Pick good cofounders. I picked no cofounders, based largely on the fact that that I couldn't think of anyone who would be interested in joining me who wouldn't dramatically lower the average founder quality. (Ok, that's being a…

I agree with the last sentence of your comment. As for the rest, maybe you should add: rule #-1: be modest :-) I am trying to write a post on my blog about what I call the "solo entrepreneur blues", which has to do with one of the biggest mistakes I have seen by entrepreneur friends: start alone and trust no one. I'll post a link once I have the tone right.

rule #-1: be modest

Touché!

start alone and trust no one

I'd say that's a bit strong to describe my situation. I started alone, yes; but it's more a matter of not needing anyone than it is of trusting no one.

Re: Startups in 13 Sentences

#19

Post by cperciva »

rokhayakebe wrote: post #11
cperciva wrote: post #7

I have check marks next to 8 of these, and I'm working on a 9th (ironically, #9 -- "Get ramen profitable"); but I've broken 4 of these rules, and I don't regret it in the slightest. Rule #1 -- Pick good cofounders. I picked no cofounders, based largely on the fact that that I couldn't think of anyone who would be interested in joining me who wouldn't dramatically lower the average founder quality. (Ok, that's being a…

Although I agree with your comment, I must say that everyone (and I mean everyone), who is a startup entrepreneur, knows about HN, and reads all PGs essays knows that these are advices, opinions based on the experience from funding over 100 startups. Not rules, advices. And although I applaud your efforts and accomplishments at Tarsnap, I must say that you base your argument on significantly less than 100 startups.

[everyone here knows that these are advice, not rules].

I wish I could agree with you here, but I'm afraid I've seen far too many comments along the lines of "you're violating pg's rule XYZ, so you must be doing something wrong". Yes, most people here probably understand that pg's guidance doesn't apply to every situation, but I still think it's worth reminding people occasionally.

Re: Startups in 13 Sentences

#20

Post by user »

I have a great admiration for PG. But PG sometimes creates a false reality for those young kids of becoming millionaires some day with their startup. But the truth is most of them would be heartbroken when they realize that is not always possible. I hope some of you realize this and don't waste precious life and be happy. I hope I made sense.
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